By Chijioke Kingsley
Abuja (Sundiata Post) -The General Officer Commanding, 3 Division Nigerian Army and Commander Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), Maj. Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, has said criminality, clashes and farm destructions has been reduced by 60 per cent in Sanga Local Government Area of Southern Kaduna.
The effort was achieved through a robust Civil Military Relationship intervention extended to the community during the beginning of the farming season.
The intervention which was domesticated in the area through a seminar, arms giving and tips for peaceful coexistence, as demonstrated by Gen. Abubakar and his troops became the reason for the peaceful atmosphere currently being enjoyed in the community..
“I recall that before the beginning of the farming season earlier this year, we all gathered here for a seminar to work out modalities for a successful farming season alongside herding activities without conflict.
“I am glad to observe that we have derived the dividend of that seminar as clashes and farm destructions reduced by over 60% this year based on available statistics.
“That is why we are also showcasing the display of bountiful harvest today”, Abubakar said on Friday in Sanga while distributing palliatives to widows and persons living with disabilities.
He continued: “The occasion you are witnessing today, is part of OPSH non-kinetic approach in conflict resolution and maintenance of peaceful coexistence in Plateau, Southern Kaduna, and parts of Bauchi states, even as we commence Operation Golden Peace to ensure a peaceful harvest period and secured yuletide season.
“Today, OPSH will be distributing palliatives to 50 physically challenged persons and 50 widows drawn from the 4 chiefdoms of Sanga LGA.
“This is our little way of encouraging the widows and those with physical challenges in the OPSH operating environment as part of our non Kinetic lines of operation.
“I would like to remind us all that the widows and physically challenged persons form a part of our society that we cannot ignore. This is because some of the women are made widows due to the civil unrest and crises, while for the physically challenged, some were born with the challenges and some in the course of their life.
“Despite their status, they still contribute a lot to the economy, growth and national development of our nation”, he said.
Earlier, the Sanga Forward Operating Base (FOB), Commander, Major Mohammed Galadima, said most of the incessant crisis witnessed in the area before the arrival of the GOC has made a lot of women widows as well as others physically challenged.
According to him: “Most of the crises we witness over time have made a lot of women widows today. Likewise, the physically challenged persons are found in all of our society which we cannot ignore their plight and challenges.
“This is because despite their challenges they form part of our society and have their quota to contribute to the overall economic growth and development of our nation.
“An example of this is one of our physically challenged who contributed his quota in a cultural dance as part of entertainment.
“It gives me joy today to witness this distribution of palliatives to the widows and physically challenged in Sanga. This gesture is aimed at encouraging the widows and physically challenged persons to continue to co-exist”, he said.
