News Commentary: Plateau insecurity and the Chief of Army Staff’s dance of peace with Operation Hakorin Damisa

By our News and Current Affairs Department

Recently,the chief of Army Staff, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja visited Plateau state following the series of attacks and killings by gunmen in Mangu and other parts of the state .

During the visit ,the chief of Army Staff launched a special military operation code-named Operation Hakorin Damisa

Speaking while addressing the troops at the Mangu mini stadium, the chief of army staff urged the soldiers to do everything possible to stamp out the crises in the affected areas

He assured them that every resources they needed to succeed, both men and material, will be made available to them.

Lagbaja equally warned the troops that they were not in Mangu to play chess game, and implored them not to allow the killings in Mangu to resurge.

Before he left Plateau and returned to Abuja ,the chief of Army Staff held a stakeholders meeting and assured the people of the state that in no time ,normalcy would be restored not only in Mangu, but in the whole of the state

No doubts ,the launching of the special military operation by the Chief of Army Staff signalled a new approach in addressing the security challenge in the state . Importantly ,his direct command to the troops to stamp out violent terror attacks in Mangu and other parts of Plateau state could not have come at a more auspicious time given the fact that in the past two months ,apart from killing over 300 persons in Mangu and the neighbouring communities ,the gunmen who have consistently waged war against the people equally set their houses on fire forcing many villagers to flee their communities .

With the launching of Operation Hakorin Damisa,it is hoped that peace will not only be restored in the troubled communities ,those who were chased out out their homes would also be made to return to their homes while perpetrators are made to face the full wrath of the law.

The peace objectives, if achieved ,will also afford the state Governor , Caleb Mutfwang Mutfwang to concentrate on his development agenda for the state .

As has been noted by Senator Istifanus Gyang,what is now left is for the Chief of Army Staff to closely monitor the compliance of the troops to his command to ensure that the siege by terrorists on Plateau communities comes to an end and sustainable peace restored to the State.