OPERATION SAFE HAVEN ORGANIZES SEMINAR FOR CRITICAL STAKEHOLDERS TOWARDS A SUCCESSFUL FARMING SEASON IN SANGA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KADUNA STATE AND ENVIRONS
Operations SAFE HAVEN (OPSH) today, 18 May 2024 organized a seminar for critical stakeholders towards achieving a successful farming season in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The seminar with the theme *”Peaceful Coexistence Towards a Successful Farming Season”* was held at the DM Bello Multipurpose Hall, Sanga Local Government Council Headquarters Gwantu and drew participants cutting across all sides of the divide. Also, in attendance at the seminar were government officials, heads of security agencies, traditional rulers, youth and women leaders as well as civil society organizations.
In the keynote address, the Commander OPSH and GOC 3 Division Nigerian Army, Major General AE Abubakar stressed the importance of the seminar which would facilitate a hitch free farming season and also highlighted the crucial role played by the Agricultural Sector in the overall development of any nation. He therefore urged the stakeholders to create an enabling environment for farming and herding activities to be carried out side by side without fear or conflict. He however warned misguided persons who may wish to disrupt farming activities this year to have a rethink as OPSH will not hesitate to decisively deal with such criminals in line with extant laws.
On their parts, the guest speakers who spoke on the theme emphasized the need for upholding the sanctity of human lives by desisting from indiscriminate attacks. They also collectively urged the participants to tolerate one another and learn to forgive grievances from the past as reprisals would only lead to further losses which would further aggravate poverty. They also pointed out that a successful farming season is only possible in an atmosphere of tolerance and respect for one another. The resource persons also endorsed the Bottom – Top Crisis Resolution Mechanism of OPSH which ensures that all peace efforts are transmitted to the lowest echelon and consequently advised the participants to use all avenues to pass the message of peace to their followers and wards.
Highpoint of the seminar was the interactive session during which participants cutting across all sides of the divide lauded the initiative by Operation SAFE HAVEN and promised to do their best to ensure peaceful coexistence towards attaining a successful farming season in Sanga Local Government Area.
At the end of the seminar, writing materials were presented to some schools as part of Civil-Military Cooperation activities. Additionally, one of the pre-primary school was presented with a Merry-Go-Round facility to aid the pupils’ physical fitness training.
The Commander also used the opportunity to visit the Forward Operating Base Sanga where he was briefed on the current operational activities of the unit. He also commissioned the newly constructed Administrative Area for troops at Ancha Area Command. Also, as part of efforts to the tempo of kinetic operations, the commander commissioned some combat motorcycles to aid the mobility of troops into the difficult terrain of the adjoining areas.