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Army Holds Stakeholders’ Meeting in Riyom, Jos South to Consolidate Peace, Prepare Communities for Farming Season
The General Officer Commanding 3 Division of the Nigerian Army and Commander of Operation Enduring Peace, Major General EF Oyinlola, on Thursday led a decentralised stakeholders’ engagement aimed at sustaining recent security gains and preparing communities for the upcoming farming season.
The meeting, hosted by Sector 6 Commander of the Joint Task Force, Colonel PJ Malgwi, was held at the Conference Hall of Yelwa Club and brought together representatives of local communities, traditional leaders, security agencies, as well as Fulani and farming groups from Riyom and Jos South Local Government Areas.
In his remarks, Oyinlola described the engagement as part of ongoing efforts to promote sustainable peace and development across communities within the military’s operational area. He commended residents for cooperating with security agencies, noting that recent months had recorded a decline in violent incidents due to dialogue, conflict resolution initiatives, and improved community collaboration.
Despite the progress, the GOC warned of emerging threats capable of reversing the gains if not addressed early. He identified illegal mining, encroachment on farmlands, proliferation of locally fabricated weapons, cattle rustling, and reprisal attacks as key risks requiring collective vigilance.
He stressed that the approaching farming season was critical to livelihoods and warned that disruptions to agricultural activities could trigger wider economic consequences. Oyinlola disclosed that the Chief of Army Staff had approved the distribution of non-kinetic support, including fertilizers, to encourage farming and reinforce stability efforts.
The army commander urged traditional rulers, youth groups, and community stakeholders to promote peaceful coexistence and avoid actions capable of provoking violence, including destruction of property, attacks on livestock, and the spread of inflammatory narratives on social media. He also called on the media to remain professional and support peace-building initiatives.
During the interactive session, participants expressed willingness to cooperate with security agencies but raised concerns including compensation for rustled or killed cattle, restitution for destroyed farmlands, prosecution of offenders, fair justice processes, access to disputed lands, and better regulation of grazing routes and underage herders. They also emphasised the need for youth reorientation, stronger trust in security institutions, and respect for traditional leadership structures.
Responding, Oyinlola reaffirmed the military’s commitment to justice, human rights, and the protection of all law-abiding citizens regardless of ethnicity or religion. He assured that security forces were intensifying efforts to ensure farmers could safely access their lands throughout the season.
He also urged parents and guardians to guide their children and avoid shielding offenders, stressing that accountability is essential for lasting peace. Acknowledging the wider impact of insecurity, the GOC noted that fear disrupts education, markets, and livelihoods, and pledged continued collaboration with communities to restore normalcy.
The engagement concluded with the presentation of fertilizers to stakeholders, with the GOC urging community leaders to communicate the resolutions of the meeting to their respective communities as part of efforts to entrench lasting peace.
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‘You Already Have So Many Good Players’ — Masajedi Backs Nigeria’s Volleyball Talent For African Championship
Newly appointed Nigeria volleyball Technical Adviser Ryan Masajedi says the country has an abundance of talented players, but believes greater attention to fundamentals and positional discipline could help the national team compete strongly at the 2026 African Women’s Nations Volleyball Championship in Nairobi.
The Japanese tactician, who was unveiled by the Nigeria Volleyball Federation earlier this month, has immediately taken charge of preparations for the women’s senior team ahead of the continental championship, which begins in Nairobi on August 23. The tournament runs until September 5 and brings together 16 of Africa’s leading women’s volleyball nations.
READ ALSO: Nigeria’s Volleyball Development Excites NVBF’s NewTechnical Adviser Ryan Masajedi
Masajedi, who has previously worked with teams in Japan, Iran, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Italy, said he has been impressed by what he has seen from the Nigerian players since beginning work with the team. His coaching background includes a spell as assistant coach at Allianz Milano before taking up the Nigeria assignment.
“You already have so many good, talented and physically strong players,” Masajedi said.
“The only thing we were missing was the basic things, the fundamental techniques, which are most important.”
The 47-year-old coach explained that much of the team’s preparation has focused on ensuring that players understand exactly what is required of them in their respective positions.
“For each position, we made everything clear,” he said. “I was very happy with their efforts during this first period, and they have been developing well.”
Masajedi’s approach represents a significant change in Nigeria’s preparation, with the federation bringing in an experienced foreign technical adviser to strengthen the national teams ahead of major international competitions.
Nigeria Volleyball Federation president Musa Nimrod said the Japanese coach would work not only with the senior women’s team but also with the men’s national team and the federation’s wider development programmes.
“Coach Ryan Masajedi will immediately join the national women’s team in camp as preparations continue for the 2026 African Nations Championship in Kenya,” Nimrod said at the coach’s unveiling.
“He will also take charge of the men’s national team for the African Nations Championship in the Democratic Republic of Congo.”
The federation has also given Masajedi a broader development mandate, including visiting Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to identify young talent and work with local coaches.
That long-term objective appears to fit the coach’s philosophy, with Masajedi stressing the importance of building players from the fundamentals upwards rather than relying solely on physical ability.
Nigeria’s immediate challenge, however, is in Nairobi, where the country will face some of the strongest teams on the continent.
The 2026 African Women’s Nations Volleyball Championship features 16 nations, including defending champions Kenya, Egypt, Cameroon, Rwanda, Algeria, Nigeria, Morocco and Uganda.
The stakes are also considerably higher than the African title alone.
The championship forms part of the qualification pathway for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games and the 2027 FIVB Women’s World Championship. Under the continental qualification system, the African champion earns an Olympic quota, while the leading eligible teams can secure places at the 2027 World Championship.
Masajedi therefore knows his first major assignment with Nigeria carries enormous significance.
But after several weeks working with the players, the Japanese coach believes the raw material is already there.
“The players have been developing well,” he said, pointing to the response he has received from the squad during the intensive preparation period.
With Nigeria now heading into one of the biggest women’s volleyball tournaments on the continent, Masajedi’s challenge is to turn that talent into results — and potentially put Nigeria on the road to Los Angeles 2028.
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