Plateau: Army troops warn against cattle rustling, destruction of farmlands

The military Joint Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace, has issued a strict warning against cattle rustling and the destruction of farmlands across five local government areas (LGAs) in Plateau State.

Major General Folusho Oyinlola, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division of the Nigerian Army and Commander of the task force, gave the warning during a stakeholders’ engagement held in Shendam Local Government Area.

The meeting brought together community leaders, traditional rulers, women and youth representatives from Shendam, Mikang, Langtang North, Langtang South and Qua’an-Pan LGAs.

Speaking through the Chief of Staff, Operation Enduring Peace Brigadier General Senlong Sule, the GOC said the military would not tolerate any loss of lives, cattle rustling or destruction of farmlands arising from farmer-herder clashes.

He stressed that lawful channels already exist for resolving disputes between farmers and herders, urging residents not to take the law into their hands.

“During this farming season, no life should be lost because of rustled cattle, nor should any farmland be destroyed by hoodlums,” he warned.

“If anyone is caught in this act, we will not hesitate to deal with the person decisively…”

“We cannot continue to tolerate violence resulting in the loss of lives as a result of farmer-herder conflict.”

The stakeholders’ engagement was themed ‘Deepening Stakeholders Collaboration Towards Consolidating On The Security Gains For The Farming Season’.

The GOC further said the command was closely monitoring security developments across the joint operations area and would respond swiftly to early warning signs of unrest.

According to him, collective action by security agencies and local communities remains critical to sustaining the relative peace being enjoyed in the area.

Also speaking, Commander of Sector 9, Operation Enduring Peace, Lieutenant Colonel Rasheed Braimoh, said peace and security were essential for agricultural productivity and national development.

A statement signed by the media information officer of Operation Enduring Peace, Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, said traditional rulers, women and youth leaders at the meeting pledged to support efforts aimed at maintaining peaceful coexistence in their communities.

In his remarks, the Executive Chairman of Qua’an-Pan Local Government Area, Christopher Wallat, commended the military for the timely intervention, noting that the engagement would help prevent troublemakers from disrupting peace as farming activities commence.

As part of its non-kinetic civil-military cooperation efforts, Operation Enduring Peace distributed fertilisers to farmers across the five local government areas to boost agricultural activities during the season.