Nigeria’s Defence Chief General Christopher Musa has rebranded Operation SAFE HAVEN as Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace.
He said the new mandate emphasizes lasting security through intelligence, collaboration, and community engagement.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has unveiled a new identity for the North Central security operation, announcing that Operation SAFE HAVEN will now be known as the Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace (JTF OPEP). The declaration was made in Jos during the official launch of the rebranded initiative.
During the ceremony, General Musa explained that Operation SAFE HAVEN had been instrumental in managing the region’s difficult security challenges and had provided reassurance to communities scarred by years of violence. He said the decision to rename the mission was aimed at signaling a broader mandate and a stronger determination to pursue peace that is lasting rather than temporary.
According to him, achieving genuine security goes beyond immediate interventions and must include enduring measures that blend military action with political, judicial, and community participation. He emphasized that the new task force would prioritize closer cooperation among security agencies, rely heavily on intelligence-led operations, and build stronger partnerships with local communities. General Musa urged personnel to uphold the new identity of JTF OPEP with pride, discipline, and renewed energy in their service to the nation.
In his welcome address, Major General Folusho Oyinlola, the General Officer Commanding 3 Division and Commander of JTF OPEP, described the rebranding as a turning point that would inject greater focus, strategy, and commitment into the operation. He explained that the shift was not merely cosmetic but a deliberate realignment to ensure that security efforts become more proactive, intelligence-based, and result-driven.
The Commander also appealed to traditional leaders, religious groups, civil society organizations, youth bodies, and ordinary citizens to work more closely with the task force in confronting security threats. He commended the Chief of Defence Staff for his consistent backing and pledged that JTF OPEP would deliver sustainable peace across its area of responsibility in the shortest possible time.
Also speaking, Major General EV Onumajuru, Chief of Defence Operations, said the new framework was designed to address gaps noticed in previous missions. He noted that JTF OPEP would enhance early warning systems and establish dominance in areas previously left ungoverned, with strong support from local communities.
Highlights of the event included a quarter guard inspection, the formal decoration of the Commander with the new JTF OPEP insignia, the hoisting of the operation’s flag, and an address to troops of the 3 Division and JTF OPEP.
