The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Oluyemi Oluyede, has assured the people of Plateau State that the perpetrators of the heinous crime that left over 60 persons dead in five communities of Bokkos LGA would be arrested to face the full wrath of the law.
General Oluyemi, who led a delegation of senior military officers to Bokkos to see the level of destruction caused by the attacks by gunmen, called for peaceful coexistence among citizens of the state.
He also held meetings with key community stakeholders, which were attended by Major General Folusho Oyinlola, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) and Commander of Operation Safe Haven, representatives from the state government, and religious and traditional leaders, among others.
General Oluyede promised to deploy more security personnel to the affected communities to ensure the safety of lives and property, ensuring deployed troops would remain neutral, professional, and fair to all, irrespective of tribe and religion.
While emphasising peaceful coexistence, he also guaranteed that all perpetrators of the heinous crime would be arrested and prosecuted.
Speaking earlier during the visit, the GOC of 3 division and Commander of Operations Safe Haven, Major Gen. Folusho Oyinlola, vowed that any further attacks on innocent civilians would not be accepted, warning that “enough is enough.
“The senseless acts of violence that were witnessed in some of our communities must stop. Let me make it unequivocally clear that any further attacks on innocent civilians, destruction of property, or acts of lawlessness will be decisively dealt with.
“OPSH, alongside other security agencies, will not stand idly by while criminal elements destabilise our communities. Those who think they can take the law into their hands and go unpunished should rethink their actions because the full weight of the law will be brought upon them, “the GOC said.
Major General Oyilola reiterated that troops under his watch would continue to seek sustainable solutions for lasting peace and ensure the safety of lives and property.
“We must acknowledge that military action alone cannot bring about lasting peace. Sustainable peace is a collective responsibility which requires commitment from every stakeholder“.
“Let me quickly remind all the stakeholders that violence has never solved any problem. Instead, it leads to more pain, destruction and deep-seated hatred. History has shown that even the most protracted conflicts in the world have only been resolved through dialogue and reconciliation, “he said
