The Special Task Force responsible for the maintenance of peace in Plateau State, code- named, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) has banned the movement of cattle and herdsmen after 7pm in all its areas of operation.
OPSH said the development was part of efforts to sustain the peace process in Plateau State.
OPSH Commander, Major General Tagbo Ude, who issued the ban notice yesterday during a town hall meeting between various community leaders, village heads and Ardos of Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Jos South and Mangu local government areas in the state, emphasised the need to live together, calling on all parties involved to consolidate on the hard- earned peace that is already in place, while appealing to them to embrace peace that has returned to the communities.
He noted that he was not unaware that some of the challenges facing the Internally Displaced Persons who wish to return to their homes was the likelihood of their land being sold or occupied by others, stressing that, “If somebody has legitimately acquired his land, it is his, whether he is Berom or Fulani.”
According to him, “Due to the security challenges, a lot of people have left their homes but many displaced persons now want to return to their homes but their land have either been sold or are being occupied illegally. We are, however, happy that displaced persons in Lomak and Baka in Riyom have returned to their homes.
The OPSH commander commended the formation of a joint Berom and Fulani vigilante group in Barkin Ladi, which he said, have identified bad eggs within both communities and stressed that the strategy would be replicated in other communities.
Reacting to the ban, the Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in the state, Alhaji Muhammad Nura, said he was happy with the ban on grazing after 7pm, adding that the group had also banned the use of children to rear cattle.
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