The Commander, of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), Major General Abdusalam Abubakar said the command will stop at nothing to give justice to three of its operatives who were gruesomely murdered recently on the Plateau.
He disclosed this at the headquarters of OPSH on Wednesday in Jos at the 2024 Eid-El-Fitr celebration he organised for the troops.
As the Eid-El-Fitr celebration coincided with the conclusion of Ramadan fasting, Abubakar urged personnel to honor the memory of their fallen comrades who had made the ultimate sacrifice.
He solemnly recalled the recent loss of three colleagues and pledged to pursue justice relentlessly.
Abubakar said specifically, that last month alone, two soldiers and a police inspector were gruesomely murdered while discharging their constitutional mandate between Mangu and Barkin Ladi local government areas of the State.
“I want to encourage you to always remember our gallant departed colleagues who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the discharge of their duties. Specifically, last month alone, three of our colleagues were gruesomely murdered, two soldiers and one police inspector while discharging their constitutional mandate between Mangu and Barkin Ladi local government areas of the state. I have sworn not to rest until all those responsible are brought to justice. Thankfully, we have recovered their weapons and already arrested most of the perpetrators that are responsible, some as far away as Bauchi”.
He appreciated the sacrifices made by members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Nigerian Police Force, and various security agencies in maintaining peace and security within the joint operations area.
The Army commander lauded the professionalism, courage, and determination exhibited by the personnel, particularly in the challenging terrain of the plateau.
He underscored the importance of remaining focused on the task at hand and intensifying efforts to eradicate all forms of security threats, including isolated killings, kidnapping, and ethno-religious crises.
The commander reassured all personnel of the unwavering support from the headquarters of OPSH as well as both the army and Defense headquarters.
He emphasized the provision of leadership, welfare, and logistics essential for the effective and successful conduct of operations.
“Your professionalism, courage, and determination to achieve our mandates, especially on the plateau, is worthy of note and highly appreciated. While I acknowledge and applaud your efforts, I urge you not to rest but to remain focused in your task. To consolidate the gains of all our recent achievements, we must intensify our efforts to completely eradicate all acts of isolated killings, kidnapping, farmers-herders clashes, cattle rustling, as well as cattle poisoning, farm destruction, and ethno-religious crisis, among all other forms of security threats within our joint operations area.
“I want to reassure you once again that the headquarters of Operations, Safe Haven, as well as both the army headquarters and the Defense headquarters, will do all that is necessary to provide you with the requisite leadership, welfare, and logistics to motivate you for the effective and successful conduct of our operations”; he added.
The commander’s resolute stance echoed through his words, emphasising that those responsible for violence and unrest would face the consequences of their actions, regardless of their attempts to evade capture. He reiterated his commitment to ensuring justice for the fallen and maintaining peace and security in the area.
By Nathaniel Gbaoron, Jos
