CGS Chief of
defence staff
CGS Chief of
defence staff General Olonisakin
DHQ Establishes Civil-Military Relief
Initiative
This is press briefing on the activities of Operation SAFE HAVEN
(OPSH) being conducted by the combined forces of the military and
other security agencies. This operation is part of the Operation
777, which was launched on the 8 of October 2018 to re-jig our
existing operations. This became necessary in order to close gaps
between our different operations and to avoid criminals and bandits
escaping from one operation theatre to other places. It is
gratifying to note that OPSH has achieved the set objectives of
Operation 777.
2. The relative peaceful security environment within the Joint
Operation Area (JOA) could be attributed to the renewed vigour with
which troops conduct assigned tasks. There is an appreciable level
of aggressive posture through the conduct of raid operations,
cordon and search, fighting patrols, show of force leading to the
arrest/detention of culprits thereby achieving effective domination
of the JOA. However, the 3 vexed issues of ethnicity, religion and
political affinity create a general state of mistrust and animosity
often times degenerating into clashes. The insecurity that pervades
the environment has also been shaped by acts of criminality due to
the activities of cultists and other organized criminal groups.
3. Similarly, the communal crisis that occasioned the
displacements of some communities in Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, Mangu,
and Riyom Local Government Areas in Plateau State following the Jun
18 attack bears significant humanitarian and security concerns.
Just as the unfortunate ethno-religious crisis that occurred in
Sep/Oct 18 also left scores of casualties including some students
of University of Jos in its aftermath. This ethno-religious
dimension has further induced fear, apprehension and general state
of insecurity across the entire JOA. Most worrisome is also the
political tension arising from the 10 Oct 18 LGA Elections
conducted in 13 out of the 17 LGAs in the State. The Local
Elections were characterised by large scale protests and agitations
in the aftermath of the announcement of results which could have
snowballed into ethno-religion crisis but for the proactive
measures adopted to contain the protests.
4. Another preventable development that shaped the security
environment was the unfortunate killing of Maj Gen IM Alkali in Du
District of Jos South LGA in Plateau State by suspected Berom
militia which has further deepened the animosity betweensome
affected communities. This mutual suspicion has further heightened
the level of antagonism between the 2 communities bearing the
livelihood to snowball into violent conflict at the slightest
spark. Another dimension that shaped the security environment was
the killing of the Agom Adara of Kachia Local Government Area in
Kaduna State and subsequent sectarian disturbances which necessity
HQ OPSH to put in measures to avoid spillover effect into Kafanchan
as well as other areas within Southern Kaduna. OPSH has
successfully restored relative normalcy within Jos-Bukuru
metropolis and stabilized other area especially in the hinterland
through the DHQ Op 777 initiative. The task ahead lies with
dislodgement of identified threats in the southern boundary with
Taraba State at Wase, Langtang North, Langtang South and Shendam
LGAs where armed banditry and other militia groups are terrorising
the local inhabitants. Thus, the focus of HQ OPSH regarding
successes attained is the total restoration of law and order that
would provide an environment of peaceful co-existence as contained
in the CDS’ Ops Directives.
5. The conduct of Op 777 under OPSH has led to the neutralizing
of 10 criminals as well as the arrest of 55 individuals of various
crimes ranging from Armed Robbery, Kidnapping, Cattle Rustling,
Armed Banditry, Child Trafficking, Drug Peddling, Murder, Gun
runners, Impersonation, Sara Suka and Cultist Activities. The
suspects arrested were profiled and interrogated, while some have
been handed over to relevant prosecuting agencies for further
actions, some others are still being interrogated. A total of 26
suspects will be paraded. In the cause of the operation 4 personnel
of the Command were Wounded in Action.
6. The conduct of Op 777 under OPSH has also led to the recovery
of some illegal arms and ammunition across its Area of
Responsibility. The recoveries include:
a. 3 AK 47 rifles.
b. 11 locally fabricated pistols.
c. 7 locally fabricated rifles.
d. 3 dane guns.
e. 1 locally fabricated Sub machine gun.
f. 3 Baretta pistols.
g. 1025 rounds of assorted ammunitions.
h. 17 cartridges.
i. 3 magazines.
j. 2 Bajaj motorcycles.
k. 2 axes.
l. 3 knives.
m. working tools accessories for arms fabrication.
n. A military camouflage, Pullover and 2 boots.
O 2 cell phones.
p. A pair of military woodland camouflage.
7. As part of the Chief of Defence Staff directives, and to
conform to the guidelines of Operation 777OPSH simultaneously
conducted CIMIC activities in pursuit of the fulfillment of the
mandate as part of its non-kinetic line of operation. Some of the
non-kinetic activities conducted includes: free medical outreach
programme and donation of relief materials to some communities in
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps within the Area of
Responsibility. The high point of non-kinetic Operation conducted
was the donation of various relief materials such as mattresses,
blankets, pillows, mats, bags of rice, buckets, cooking oil and
other essential commodities to the IDP camp located within the
National Institutes of Mining and Geo-sciences in Anguldi, Jos on
Friday 9 November 2018.
8. It is necessary to inform the general public that OPSH has
establish an NGO known as Civil-Military Relief Initiative to
partner with well meaning organization to promote peaceful
co-existence amongst the citizens. This NGO is meant to disabuse
the negative mindset and project the goodwill of OPSH to the people
as part of its CIMIC activities.HQ OPSH had earlier composed a
committee to assess the extent of destructions within deserted
villages and the possibility of establishing Strike Force Bases as
a prelude to encouraging IDPs to return to their ancestral homes.
The committee under took painstaking tour of 40 villages in which
their findings categorized in to 3:
a. Villages that were abandoned out of fear of insecurity.
b. Villages that were attacked with some houses partially
destroyed.
c. Villages that were attacked with some houses completely
destroyed.
Essentially, OPSH will establish Forward Operation Bases in
strategic locations to dominate the general area in order to give
confidence to the inhabitants to return home.
9. OPSH is also concluding its contingency plan for the
voluntary return of IDPs to their ancestral homes. Experiences here
in field have shown that some misguided youth are willing tools in
the hands of some mischievous elites who use them to perpetrate the
worst of heinous crimes on the Plateau. The essence of harnessing
the available potentials and energy within the youth population
gives HQ OPSH the intuition to organize a youth summit on 19 Dec
18. The Theme of the summit is tagged “Re-energizing the Plateau
Youth for Positive Development of the Society” and it cut across
all youth associations in the 17 LGA of Plateau State. The Summit
is aimed at sensitizing the youth population to re-focus their
energy into productive ventures that will empower them to take
onerous responsibilities of their tomorrow. It will be a practical
and interactive summit, to re-invigorate the inert potentials of
the youths into constructive ideas in building a virile society.
OPSH strongly believes that the end product of the summit will
enlighten the youths to have a changed mindset and also pick up the
challenges of rebuilding strong and better relationship for
peaceful co-existence on the plateau.
10. In its efforts, advocacy in line with non-kinetic approach
to restore peace on the Plateau, OPSH regularly conducts peace
building and security meeting with stakeholders to breach mistrust
and animosity amongst different tribes and religious
affiliations.The essence of the meetings was to foster unity and
peaceful co-existence within the OPSH Area of Responsibility.
11. The Operation SAFE HAVEN will want to reassure members of
the general public of its determination to protect lives and
property of all law abiding citizens. The OPSH also wishes to
reiterate on its mandate of renewed vigour and resolve to promote
peace and to be decisive in responding to any act of criminality or
acts inimical to the protection of law – abiding citizens. It is
also necessary to appeal to the Privilege Few in the society to
adopt conciliatory tones in their utterances and avoid the spread
of fake information that could cause societal harm.
12. Permit me at this point to commend the media for your
cooperation and support to OPSH. Forc us to successfully combat
criminality from Plateau, this support should be sustained.
Finally, let me reassure the general public that OPSH will continue
to be professional in the discharge of our duties. Law abiding
citizens should continue to give timely information to security
agencies for prompt action. Thank you for your patience and
attention.
JOHN AGIM
Brigadier General
Acting Director Defence Information