By Abdullahi Alhassan
The Headquarters 3 Division Nigerian Army and Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE urged communities in Plateau State and parts of Kaduna and Bauchi to sustain dialogue and cooperation to guarantee a peaceful farming season.
The call was made during a one-day expanded stakeholders’ engagement held at the Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, Jos. The forum drew participants from the 17 Local Government Areas of Plateau State, traditional rulers, community and religious leaders, farmers, herders, retired senior officers, and local government officials.
Declaring the meeting open, the outgoing General Officer Commanding 3 Division and Commander Operation ENDURING PEACE, Major General Folusho Oyinlola, said sustained stakeholder engagement had helped reduce farmer-herder tensions and improved both farming and grazing activities in the Joint Operations Area.
He described the engagement as a platform for dialogue, confidence building and peaceful conflict resolution.
“The peaceful resolution of several potential conflicts shows that lasting peace depends on sustained stakeholder engagement, mutual understanding and collective responsibility,” Oyinlola said.
The GOC highlighted the impact of the operation’s non-kinetic approach, including community-led policing, Quick Impact Projects and sporting activities for youths, which he said had strengthened security and restored public confidence.
While noting improved security, he warned that isolated criminal acts could erode the gains if not checked. He urged communities to remain vigilant and ensure that resolutions from the meeting are implemented at the grassroots.
Speaking on behalf of local stakeholders, Mr Dauda Adam Mamman commended the outgoing GOC for consistent engagements, which he said were central to the relative peace in Plateau. He called on farmers and herders to remain tolerant and to channel grievances through peaceful channels instead of confronting security personnel.
The Chairman of Riyom Local Government and representative of Plateau State Local Government Chairmen, Hon Sati Bature Shuwa, also praised Oyinlola’s leadership. He pledged the continued support of council chairmen to the incoming commander.
On behalf of retired senior officers, Brigadier General JN Temlong (Rtd) advocated stronger community-based early warning systems. He said security personnel were deployed to protect lives and property, and thanked the Chief of Army Staff for support to Operation ENDURING PEACE.
The Chairman of the Plateau State Traditional Council and Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Buba Gyang, urged communities to expose criminal elements and provide credible intelligence to security agencies. He stressed that peaceful coexistence was critical to the state’s development and asked the incoming GOC to sustain the stakeholder engagements.
Responding, the incoming GOC 3 Division and Commander Operation ENDURING PEACE, Major General Maxwell Dangana, assured stakeholders of impartial leadership. He said security was a shared responsibility and urged communities to report criminal elements, provide timely intelligence, resolve disputes lawfully and avoid reprisals.
“The Nigerian Army remains committed to protecting lives and property,” Dangana said.
In his vote of thanks, the Deputy Commander Operation ENDURING PEACE, Commissioner of Police T. Iyua, commended Oyinlola’s leadership and welcomed Dangana to the command.
The meeting ended with interactive sessions where stakeholders proposed practical measures to consolidate security gains ahead of the peak of the 2026 farming season.
