Operation SAFE HAVEN has refuted claims made by the Bokkos Cultural Development Council (BCDC) Vanguards regarding the alleged imposition of peace agreements on communities in Bokkos Local Government Area (LGA) by military authorities.
In a statement released on Thursday morning, Operation SAFE HAVEN addressed the allegations, stating that the BCDC Vanguards’ assertions were aimed at discrediting ongoing efforts by security agencies to promote peaceful coexistence among residents.
According to Operation SAFE HAVEN, an expanded stakeholders’ engagement was held at Headquarters 3 Division on April 24, 2024, with representatives from various ethnic groups, including critical stakeholders and Plateau State Government officials. As a result of the meeting, it was agreed to employ a bottom-up crisis resolution approach to address the conflicts in Bokkos and Mangu LGAs.
Operation SAFE HAVEN stated: “As part of non-kinetic efforts to de-escalate tension in Bokkos and Mangu Local Government Areas of Plateau State, Operation SAFE HAVEN facilitated an expanded stakeholders’ engagement at Headquarters 3 Division on 24 April 2024. It is imperative to state that the meeting was well attended with critical stakeholders from all sides of the divide in attendance as well as representatives of the Plateau State Government. As a fallout of the meeting, it was agreed that the bottom-top crisis resolution approach should be employed to bring a lasting solution to the crisis experienced in the aforementioned Local Government Areas. Consequent upon the foregoing, troops of Sector 5 Operation SAFE HAVEN were invited by the civil authorities of Bokkos Local Government Area to witness one of such engagements at Butura Kampani on 30 April 2024.
“Suffice to state that at no point in time did the troops of Sector 5 Operation SAFE HAVEN impose any peace agreement on any group of persons under any guise. It is therefore expedient to stress the risks associated with the deliberate efforts by Bokkos Cultural Development Council Vanguards to rouse negative public opinion against security agencies. Notwithstanding the desperate attempts to cast aspersion on personnel of Operation SAFE HAVEN, security agencies will continue to take proactive steps to foster peaceful coexistence in the Joint Operations Area.”
However, troops of Sector 5 Operation SAFE HAVEN were invited by civil authorities of Bokkos LGA to witness one of these engagements at Butura Kampani on April 30, 2024. Operation SAFE HAVEN emphasized that at no point did their troops impose any peace agreement on any group.
“We stress the risks associated with the deliberate efforts by Bokkos Cultural Development Council Vanguards to rouse negative public opinion against security agencies,” Operation SAFE HAVEN stated.
Despite attempts to undermine their efforts, Operation SAFE HAVEN reassured the public of their commitment to fostering peaceful coexistence in the Joint Operations Area.
They urged “the public to collaborate and provide credible intelligence to aid in securing law-abiding citizens.”