*says some people working to undermine peace efforts of military outfit

*passes vote of confidence on OPSH Commander, troops

*tasks natives not to give in to antics of desperate politicians

*says enemies of peace in their land, sponsors from outside the state will be exposed soon


By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON

A Southern Kaduna based peace advocacy group has raised alarm over renewed threats to peace and security of the area by some people it referred to as crisis merchants.

To this end, the group, Southern Kaduna Peace Practitioners Network SOKAPEP) has appealed to the peace loving people to avoid the devilish acts
capable of jeopardizing the peace and security that have already been restored by Operation Safe Haven, an internal military outfit in the area.

in a statement, on Thursday September 22, 2022 by its National President, Rev. Dr. Dauda Fadia, the group said its appeal came against the backdrop of renewed acts of poisoning cattle in the area which it feared, could result in another round of unrest.

The indigenous peace advocacy group wondered why some persons could contemplate setting Southern Kaduna on fire with the despicable acts after peace that eluded the area for a while has been restored through the painstaking efforts of the internal military outfit and others.

The group particularly passed a vote of confidence on the military outfit and other security agencies on their handling of security affairs of Southern Kaduna, saying they have acted within the confines of military rule of engagement on internal security.

"We write to condemn the resurgence of the poisoning of some cattle in Southern Kaduna, particularly in Kaura and Zango Kataf local government areas of Kaduna State. This act coming after a long period of relative peace in our once volatile area, is condemnable," it said.

According to SOKAPEP, "This barbaric act is purely targeted at igniting another round of violence just to discredit the tireless and wonderful efforts of security agencies in restoring peace to Southern Kaduna.

"We are aware that since the coming, of the current Commander of Operation Safe Haven, this crisis merchants have lost their jobs of instigating trouble to make monetary gains," it alleged.

The group, while noting that, "The Commander and his men have since changed the tide against criminals and crisis entrepreneurs in the area with new strategies, the development has compelled the frustrated elements to resort to poisoning cows with a view to undermining the peace efforts in Southern Kaduna region of the state again", the group said, vowing that they will resist the enemies of peace with the last drop of their energy.

" Never again shall we keep quiet and see our women and children suffer again. These enemies of peace in our land and their sponsors from outside the state will be exposed soon," it insisted.

While further observing that, "The military special task force has put up a special team in all the communities in Southern Kaduna to resolve any issues of farm trespass, the group asked:, "Why poisoning cows that have not even trespassed into anyone's land?"

Tagging the action of the perpetrators as "wicked", the Southern Kaduna peace advocacy group said, "We are therefore, calling on the youth of Southern Kaduna not to allow themselves to be used by some Kaduna and Abuja based politicians who have been using us to trade during crisis.

"We must continue to live in peace with everyone, including Fulanis. Where there is a breach to peace, they should immediately report to the security agencies and not to take laws into their hands," it advised.

It further said, "And for the those crisis merchants who want to rubbish all the efforts of the security agencies working to restore peace in Southern Kaduna, we have a bad news for them, that they have failed woefully.

"We also call on the herders whose cattle were affected not to take the laws into their hands for any reason. They should give security agencies the chance to deal with the issues in the interest of peace," the group equally advised.

"Operation Safe Haven under the current leadership has performed to our satisfaction. The Commander and his team, to our rating in the peace building efforts in the area, have not deviated from their mandate.

"As a peace advocacy group, we as SOKIPEP pass a vote of confidence in the leadership of Operation Safe Haven and all the troops of the internal security outfit for their tireless and professional efforts to keep the people of Southern Kaduna and Plateau State safe,” the statement by Rev. Dauda Fadia further read.