By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
In a renewed move to tackle violent attacks in Plateau State and surrounding regions, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dispatched an assessment team to Operation SAFE HAVEN (OPSH), to evaluate troop performance and reinforce morale amid ongoing clashes between farming and herding communities.
The team, led by Air Vice Marshal MN Onyebashi, visited the OPSH headquarters in Jos, Plateau State capital, where he commended troops’ resilience and tactical commitment across the joint operations area covering parts of Plateau, Bauchi, and Kaduna States.
Speaking during the tour, Onyebashi emphasized the need for the operation to remain intelligence-driven and proactive. “The efforts of the troops in these troubled sectors deserve commendation. However, you must sustain your aggressive posture against criminal elements while upholding discipline, neutrality, and vigilance. Avoid distractions and remain focused on your constitutional duties,” he charged.
The assessment team also visited frontline deployments in Sector 3 Bassa, Sector 8 Mangu, and Sector 6 Riyom, areas notorious for recurring attacks and reprisals. Onyebashi hailed the troops for their operational discipline in the face of persistent violence linked to farmer-herder conflicts.
Welcoming the delegation, the General Officer Commanding 3 Division and Commander of Operation SAFE HAVEN, Major General Folusho Oyinlola — represented by the OPSH Chief of Staff — acknowledged the strategic relevance of the visit. He described it as timely and vital to boosting operational efficiency.
“The visit underscores the Defence Headquarters’ commitment to strengthening security operations across the country,” he said, adding that recent gains by OPSH would be consolidated with continuous guidance from the top military leadership.
The visit comes amid growing concern over violent killings in parts of Plateau, with citizens and stakeholders calling for a more sustained and coordinated military presence to restore lasting peace.