In a proactive move to forestall violence ahead of the 2026 planting season, the Nigerian Army has announced the immediate deployment of an elite Special Forces unit to Plateau State.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division and Commander of Operation ENDURING PEACE, Major General EF Oyinlola, disclosed this on Thursday during a high-level security engagement with critical stakeholders from the Jos South and Riyom Local Government Areas.
While acknowledging a recent decline in violence in the region, Major General Oyinlola raised the alarm over emerging threats that could jeopardise the current relative calm.
He specifically cited attacks on miners at various extraction sites, the illegal manufacturing of arms within local communities, and the influx of large cattle herds into farming areas, which have already led to the destruction of farmlands and isolated reprisal attacks, as early warning signs that would be nipped in the bud.
According to him, “We cannot afford to ignore these early warning signs,” the GOC cautioned.
“Any disruption to farming activities at this stage will have far-reaching consequences for food security and social cohesion throughout the year.”
The “Carrot and Stick” Approach
To maintain order, the military is employing a dual strategy of “kinetic” (military force) and “non-kinetic” (community support) interventions, he said, noting that the deployment of the Chief of Army Staff Intervention Battalion, an elite Special Forces unit, will be deployed to contain emerging threats.
As part of the non-kinetic movement, the GOC lavished community support by distributing fertilisers to both farming and herding communities, approved by the Chief of Defence Staff, to encourage economic productivity.
He emphasised that while the military will sustain aggressive clearance of criminal hideouts, “security is a shared responsibility.”
He urged traditional and religious leaders to strengthen local conflict resolution mechanisms to prevent minor disputes from escalating into full-blown crises.
However, in a firm tone, the GOC issued directives to stakeholders, which include preventing the deliberate poisoning of cattle or destruction of crops and developing community-driven rules for peaceful coexistence.
General Oyinlola reaffirmed that security agencies are not deployed to take sides but to protect all law-abiding citizens regardless of ethnicity or religion.
He reminded the attendees that history proves dialogue is the only sustainable end to conflict.
“Peace is not a favour we extend to one another; it is a necessity for our collective survival,” he stated, urging the stakeholders to bequeath a legacy of brotherhood rather than bloodletting to the next generation.
Our correspondent reports that the stakeholders, which include community leaders at the end of the gathering, were committed to providing timely, credible information to security forces to ensure a hitch-free 2026 farming season.
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