The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has ordered troops deployed to Plateau State and adjoining areas to go all out in flushing out criminal elements threatening peace in the region. He warned that compromise, indiscipline, or half-measures would no longer be tolerated.
General Musa issued the directive in Jos, Plateau State, during the official rebranding of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) to Operation Enduring Peace (OEP), a move he said symbolized the military’s renewed commitment to restoring lasting stability.
Addressing commanders and frontline soldiers, the CDS was blunt: “You are here to protect the people and their property, not to oppress them. Any soldier found abusing civilians will face court-martial. On the battlefield, there is no ‘repel.’ Any criminal that dares attack must never return to tell the story. Every bush, every hideout must be combed until they are neutralized.”
He cautioned that the era of shielding criminals or providing cover for lawbreakers was over, insisting that commanders would henceforth be held accountable for lapses under their watch. “We have until December to make a difference. Mr. President is watching. Our task is not only to win the war but to win the peace. The people must feel safe, day and night,” General Musa declared.
In a new operational shift, he announced that troops will pull back from checkpoints in urban centers, handing them over to the police, while the military focuses on rural areas and criminal enclaves. Mobile patrols will also be intensified to expand coverage and restore confidence in vulnerable communities.
On the plight of displaced persons, the CDS ordered troops to create the enabling environment for safe and dignified return of families forced out of their ancestral homes by attacks. He also warned against what he described as “community blackmail” — where some groups agitate for the withdrawal of soldiers to give criminals free rein.
“We must demonstrate our commitment with action. Criminals cannot overrun our communities while we stand by. Any commander who fails in his responsibility will answer for it,” he vowed.
Earlier in his remarks, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division, Nigerian Army, and Commander of Operation Enduring Peace, Major General E.F. Oyinlola, praised troops’ sacrifices over the years, noting that OPSH had significantly curtailed large-scale violence in Plateau, Bauchi, and parts of Kaduna.
“Through dedication, professionalism, and synergy with other security agencies and citizens, we have created an atmosphere where dialogue, reconciliation, and socio-economic activities could thrive. This rebranding signals a stronger, more determined phase of the operation,” Oyinlola said.
With the new charge from the CDS, security analysts say all eyes will now be on Plateau and its environs to see if Operation Enduring Peace can truly live up to its name by finally silencing the guns and restoring lasting calm.
PIONEER NEWS 