PLATEAU CRISIS: Nigeria can only be greater if we remain as one
The multi-discipline taskforce maintaining peace in Plateau and some parts of Bauchi State otherwise known as Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), recently distributed 12,000 pieces of exercise books to some troubled parts of Plateau State that has hitherto embraced peace.
The Commander of OPSH, Major General Tagbo Ude, told The Daily Times that the gesture is to encourage pupils and students who had been displaced from their homeland and have returned home to remain in school, saying that the effort is part of Military-civilian-relationship.
About three schools in Ryiom and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau, namely, Government Secondary School, Ex-land; Government Secondary School Gashish, and Islamic Memorial Primary and Secondary Schools Mahanga, benefited from the gesture.
Presenting the books to the various schools, Gen. Ude tasked the pupils and students to be of good behavior as there is no alternative to success and peaceful co-existence.
He also encouraged their teachers to imbibe and inculcate the spirit of tolerance among the children, reminding them that Nigeria can only be greater if we remain as one.
At GSS Ex-land, the school has re-opened since the return of peace to the community but teachers that fled out of the community as a result of the crisis are yet to return to class room.
Consequently, in furtherance of this gesture, OPSH in collaboration with the Parent-Teachers Association (PTA) came together to fill the gap. While the PTA employed few teachers in some key subjects, OPSH personnel that are exceptional in other subjects offer to provide free service in other subjects to the students.
However to strengthen and boost security within the affected troubled communities, OPSH has erected and commissioned three Bus-Stops at Ex-land, Kuzen and Dogo areas of Barkin-Ladi and Ryiom communities. Gen. Tagbo said the effort is targeted at providing succor to the people within the communities.
Responding to the show of love showered by OPSH, leaders of various communities that benefited from the gesture, showered encomium on the General, saying that he is devoid of religion, tribe and ethnicity. “He is a symbol of what a true Nigerian soldier should be,” they said.
