By Rapheal Izokpu
The Coalition of Plateau Civil Society for Peace and Security, (COPPASA), has welcomed the appointment of the new Commander of Operation Safe Haven, Major General I.S. Ali.
This is as the group appealed to the people of the state to support him to bring peace to the state.
COPPASA in a statement on Thursdayfollowing resolutions at its quarterly meeting traced the renewed violence in the state to the former Commander, Major General Dominic Onyemulu.
The statement signed by its National Coordinator, Dr Bitrus Pwajok and National and Secretary, Arch. Mrs Esther Mairiga, respectively, alleged that General Onyemulu’s high-handedness and sidelining of critical stakeholders in the security subsector in the state resuscitated insecurity in Plateau.
“Having rose from our quarterly meeting to appraise the peace architecture in Plateau State and among other things,we strongly commend the Nigeria Army high command for the immediate and well deserved redeployment of Major General Dominic Onyemulu as the Commander of Operation Safe Haven and his subsequent replacement with Major General Ali as the new special tast Force Commander.
“This would remain the best thing that has happened to us in recent time. General Onyemulu’s short and worst tenure in the history of the special task force took us almost ten years backward in the pursuit for peace on the Plateau,” it claimed.
According to the group, “Before his resumption in ‘March 2021, Plateau had moved from a once volatile state to a business and investment friendly state. We were sleeping with our eyes closed.”
It added: “As soon as he reported, we expected that he would naturally consolidate on the laudable achievements of his predecessors, but he rather assumed a position of someone who knows all.”
The statement read further: “He practically replaced every steps that could guarantee peace with daily issuing of threats and orders to everyone, as if the whole plateau peace stakeholders are his children, including sister agencies who should be partners in the process.
“No stakeholders could approach him to make contribution to peace because of his claim to know all. Hence the entire peace actors on the Plateau left him alone.
“Sadly, Plateau State turned back into a killing field where at least ten people were killed on a daily basis. While some deaths were reported, some were not.
“Jos metropolis became ungovernable, businesses were shutting down at 7pm.
“Riyom and Bassa local governments went back to dark days under his watch.
“Kudos to the Nigeria police who are doing their best to curtail this menace but are handicapped due to logistic and man power.
“We are consoled in the fact that available records and information at our disposal show that the new commander is a through breed professional and detribalized Nigerian with both local and international exposures.
“We sincerely hope that he will bring his experience to bear by putting steps that will restore peace and harmony among the people of Plateau and southern kaduna.
“We in the civil society community welcome General Ali with our whole heart.
“We appeal to our people to open their heart devoid of any sentiments and give General Ali the maximum cooperation.”
