In response to the recent wave of attacks by gunmen in the Bokkos Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State, which led to the killing of over 50 people, the Chief of Army Staf, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, convened a peace meeting with local stakeholders on Monday.

The meeting, held in Bokkos, aimed to find a lasting solution to the ongoing violence in the region.

The PUNCH reported that gunmen attacked five villages in the Bokkos LGA last week, including Hurti, Ruwi, Josho, Daffo, Manguna, and other surrounding communities.

The attack left more than 40 people dead, destroyed 383 homes, and displaced over 1,000 individuals.

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, condemned the attacks, describing them as a coordinated crime orchestrated by conflict merchants rather than the long-claimed farmer-herder clashes.

The Army Chief on Monday stated that the meeting was part of a broader non-kinetic approach to ensuring peaceful coexistence in Bokkos and the surrounding areas.

He urged residents to practise tolerance, forgive one another, and strive for peace at all times.

The COAS also reassured the local population that security forces would remain neutral, professional, and fair to all, regardless of ethnicity or religion.

He emphasised that the perpetrators of the heinous acts would be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

“The security agencies could deploy a battalion of troops to Bokkos, but that may not guarantee lasting peace,” he said. “The forces don’t have the capacity to cover every inch of the region, so it is imperative for us to learn to live together in harmony.”

Oluyede further emphasised that peace in Bokkos and Plateau qas achievable, but only if all stakeholders commit to abandoning violence and embracing reconciliation.

He assured them that additional security personnel would be deployed to the affected communities to safeguard lives and property.

The Commander of Operation Safe Haven and General Officer Commanding 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, Rukuba, Maj. Gen. Folusho Oyinlola, expressed gratitude to the COAS for organising the meeting.

Oyinlola acknowledged the rising security challenges in the area and pledged to work closely with other security agencies to ensure a peaceful farming season.

The District Head of Manguna, Mr. Alo Raymond, urged security agencies to apprehend the perpetrators of the recent attacks.

Raymond alleged that the recurring violence was driven by a desire for land acquisition.



https://punchng.com/coas-meets-plateau-leaders-over-killings/