By Ralph Madugu
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, has said that real peace is only achievable when citizens make deliberate efforts to live with one another, adhere to norms and laws as well as expose criminals amongst them.
General Irabor stated this while on a courtesy visit to Governor Simon Lalong at the new Government House Rayfield Jos.
The CDS, who was in the state to assess the security situation and interact with key stakeholders on how to ensure lasting peace in the State, added that his visit was also a part of the mandate from President Muhammadu Buhari for the Armed Forces to do everything in their schedule of duty to ensure that perpetrators are fished out and such attacks do not happen again.
According to him, the military can work to confront criminal elements working against the security of lives and properties, but real peace is only obtainable when the citizens make deliberate efforts to live with one another, adhere to norms, and laws as well as expose criminals amongst them.
During a stakeholders meeting held at the Victoria Gowon Hall, General Irabor said the meeting will afford him the opportunity to listen to the concerns and suggestions of all participants on the way forward.
The CDS who used the meeting to make clarifications on the merger of the duties of Operation Safe Haven and the 3rd Armoured Division which he said was done “to give the Commander wider latitude and resources to deploy whenever there is any emergency. He said it was a great advantage which must not be misconstrued.”
Gen. Irabor then appealed to the people to cultivate trust with the Armed Forces and use all necessary channels to report any misconduct from the lowest to the highest level.
He however, assured the people of the state that no personnel will be allowed to go away with any act that runs contrary to the regulations of the Armed Forces.
Welcoming the CDS, Governor Simon Lalong thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his concern over the recent developments in the State stating that situation has been stabilized but more work needs to be done both in terms of law enforcement and peace building.
He reiterated that the people of Plateau State are peace loving and accommodating and willing to have stability to pursue their living peacefully.
The meeting thereafter went into a closed door session.