As the farming season gradually sets in, Operation Safe Haven, the military outfit in charge of security in Plateau and parts of Kaduna State, has organised a peace summit for farmers and herdsmen.

The summit was held at Gwantu, Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State, on Saturday.

The Commander of OPSH, Maj.-Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar, who described the summit as ‘apt,’ said that the event was targeted at stemming the tides of insecurity in the area.

The commander also said that the initiative was part of its non-kinetic approach to tackling security challenges in its areas of operation.

Mr Abubakar, who expressed worry over the continuous clashes between farmers and herders, stated that the event was focused on finding lasting solutions to the myriad of security challenges.

The commander, who also decried the inability of farmers to effectively cultivate their farmlands in the previous year, called on the residents to embrace peace at all times.

He stated, “We are going into the farming season and the people must farm because it is their basic source of livelihood.

Last year, the people didn’t farm well because of insecurity leading to the current food scarcity in the land. 

“So, we don’t want that to happen again; we want everybody to farm because it will stop youths from engaging in crimes like kidnapping and armed robbery. Recently, the Federal Government expressed deep concern over the current food shortage in the country and we must create the enabling environment for farming activities to take place.’’

Mr Abubakar identified underage and night grazing, destruction of farmlands and poisoning of cattle as major triggers of conflicts in the area.

He, however, called on the residents to desist from all acts capable of igniting conflict, adding that the seminar had provided a platform for the people to dialogue toward addressing the challenges.

“In southern Kaduna and Plateau states, the major triggers of conflicts are underage, night grazing, farm destruction and poisoning of cows, which lead to the vicious circle of violence. The need to ensure farmers return to their farms cannot be overemphasised; we will do everything possible to end this circle of violence,” he said.

He advised residents of the locality to forgive and forget the events of the past, adding that such would ensure a more peaceful society.

Earlier, the Commander of the OPSH Forward Operation Base in Gwantu, Maj. Mohammed Galadima, had said that the initiative was part of its bottom-top approach to addressing security challenges.

Also speaking, Chairman of Sanga Local Government, Bisala Malam, commended OPSH for its efforts toward achieving lasting peace in the area.

Represented by Mr Istifanus Sarki, the Secretary of the council, Malam also thanked OPSH for organising the summit, saying that it would ensure sustainable peace in the locality.

(NAN)