Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has urged the Nigerian Army to approach security challenges in Plateau and other parts of the country as combat operations against threats to national sovereignty rather than conventional peacekeeping missions.
Mutfwang made the call on Thursday during a farewell ceremony for the outgoing General Officer Commanding (GOC), 3 Division Nigerian Army and Commander of Operation Safe Haven, Major General Folusho Oyinlola, and the reception of his successor, Major General Williams Maxwell Dangana, in Jos.
The governor described the security situation in Plateau, the North-Central and other affected parts of Nigeria as an existential threat requiring a more decisive military response.
“My perspective on the security challenges in Nigeria is that our armed forces must see their duty not as a peacekeeping force but as protecting the sovereignty of Nigeria against enemies of the state. If we don’t look at it that way, we will be making a grave mistake,” he said.
According to him, the security threats confronting the country were aimed at destabilising Nigeria and required a stronger response from security forces.
“What we are confronting today is an existential threat to the sovereignty of Nigeria. Whether it is in the North-East, the North-West or the North-Central, we are dealing with people who want to destabilise the country, and we cannot afford to allow that,” Mutfwang said.
The governor commended Major General Oyinlola for his leadership during his 18-month tenure, noting that Plateau had continued to attract investors, tourists and visitors despite security challenges.
“There were difficult moments, but we also recorded significant successes, both kinetic and non-kinetic. If not for your leadership and commitment, those who sought to destabilise Plateau would have achieved their aim,” he said.
Mutfwang assured the incoming GOC of the state government’s continued support and urged him to build on the achievements of his predecessor while strengthening civil-military relations.
Earlier, Oyinlola disclosed that although the 3 Division has responsibility for Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa and Taraba states, about 95 per cent of his attention during his 18-month tenure was devoted to Plateau due to its peculiar security challenges.
“I can assure you that 95 per cent of my 18 months in command was devoted to issues in Plateau State. It was almost as if I was not the GOC for the other states,” he said.
The outgoing GOC thanked Governor Mutfwang for what he described as consistent support throughout his tenure, saying the cooperation contributed significantly to the successes recorded by the military.
“Anytime I called on His Excellency, he gave us his full support — logistically, physically and morally. Without that support, we would not have achieved what we did,” Oyinlola said.
He appealed to the state government, security agencies and other stakeholders to extend similar cooperation to his successor.
“I want to implore Your Excellency and all stakeholders to give my successor the same support you gave me, and even more. I am confident he will perform even better,” he added.
