Assessment of the Nigerian Military’s Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) in Effective Internal Security Management in Plateau State

Abstract

This study investigated the Nigerian Military Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) in the internal security management in Plateau state, Nigeria from 2010 to 2021. Primary data utilised for this study include a structured set of questionnaires and a key informant interview. The sampling technique adopted for the study was the purposive sampling method, hence only those with adequate knowledge of the subject matter were interviewed. Three senatorial zones were purposively selected for detailed investigation and generalisation. These include the South senatorial zone, Central senatorial zone and North senatorial zone. Also, the Headquarters (HQs) OPSH, Sectors and Forward Operation Basaa (FOBs) were selected in each senatorial zone for detailed investigation and these include; Wase FOB, Shendam FOB (South senatorial Zone), Barkin Ladi (Sector 4), Bassa (Sector 3) (North senatorial zone) and Bokkos (sector 5), Mangu (FOB) (Central senatorial zone). 400 copies of structured questionnaires were administered but 395 copies were retrieved and were used for analysis using SPSS. Analysis of data were both quantitative and qualitative. Findings from the study revealed that the State is bedevilled with new dimension of security threats which were not experienced in the past such as banditry, armed robbery, selective killings, kidnappings, farmers-herders clashes and raiding of towns and villages. Findings from the study also revealed that the Nigerian Military OPSH is responsive to the current security threats bedevilling the State. The study also revealed that the Nigerian military OPSH is faced with lots of challenges such as lack of manpower, logistics and modern equipment to ease their operations. The study recommended that the Nigerian Military OPSH should secure modern day equipment in order to withstand the challenges of modern security threats confronting Plateau State.