Maj.-Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar, the Commander of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), has vowed to “end senseless killings and destruction of farmlands and other properties in the southern part of Kaduna State”.

The commander said this in an interactive session with stakeholders on Sunday in Zango-Kataf.

OPSH is a special military task force maintaining peace in Plateau and parts of Bauchi and Kaduna States.

Mr Abubakar, who doubles as the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 3 Division of the Nigeria Army, Rukuba, near Jos, expressed deep sadness over the recurrent killings and destruction of lives and property.

The commander also promised to deal with anyone caught taking the law into their own hands.

”I want to start by expressing my worry and sadness that in 2023 people can still take laws into their hands. Why will you kill because someone has wronged you?

”If you are aggrieved, report to security agencies for action. No one should take the law into their own hands.

”We are here to serve you and to protect lives and property, and we will not condone any act of criminality.

”As we speak, I have deployed additional soldiers to southern Kaduna so that we can cover everywhere and promptly respond to any security breach,” he said.

The commander advised community and religious leaders to take responsibility for their subjects’ actions by ensuring they obeyed law and order.

He also decried the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in communities and warned that anyone caught with an unlawful weapon would not be spared.

”Community leaders should take responsibility. I will start holding community leaders responsible for any act of criminality.

”Immediately President Bola Tinubu assumed office, he made it clear that there must be an end to senseless killings in all parts of the country; we have keyed into that.

”We have too many small arms and light weapons in the hands of unauthorised people.

”Once you are caught with any weapon, you will be brought down. That’s the directive.

”So, tell your people in possession of unauthorised weapons to submit them or be dealt with when caught,” he warned.

Mr Abubakar disclosed that OPSH had adopted some modalities, including the use of technology, aimed at tackling the circle of violence in the area.

He, however, called on the people to support and cooperate with the military and other security agencies as they strive toward ensuring lasting peace.

”Majority of us want peace, but we have bad eggs among us; it is our collective efforts to fish out these bad eggs living with us.

”But if we refuse to fish them out, I want to assure you that it is a new dawn. Both the music and the dance steps must change,” Mr Abubakar declared. 

(NAN)