The Commander of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), the joint task force on the Jos crisis, Maj. Gen. Folusho Oyinlola, has insisted that citizens of Plateau State who engage in mining at night must stop, stating that such activities have led to an increase in criminality.
Gen. Folusho Oyinlola made this known on Thursday during a town hall meeting with citizens in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of northern Plateau State. The engagement was part of a non-kinetic approach to promoting peaceful coexistence.
He used the opportunity to also ban night grazing and prohibited grazing by underage persons. The Commander of Operation Enduring Peace, who also doubles as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division, Rukuba, warned that anyone caught mining or grazing at night will be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.
Explaining the reason for the meeting, the Commander said, “Security agencies remain concerned about recent developments in parts of the state, particularly attacks on miners at mining sites and the increasing influx of large numbers of cattle into farming communities.”
It will be recalled that seven persons in Riyom Local Government Area were recently killed while mining at night. Thirteen others were earlier shot dead at Fan in December last year. It was uncovered that most of the miners were involved in drug activities. It was also gathered that some youths have abandoned school due to mining activities in order to earn quick money.
Gen. Oyinlola urged Fulani herders to avoid destroying farm crops and farmlands. He also appealed to farmers not to harm cattle while grazing. He assured residents that the joint task force would fish out all criminal elements in the state, adding that OPEP is battle-ready to end hostilities in Plateau State.
Stakeholders at the meeting noted that mining activities have also destroyed farmlands and expressed support for the ban. They also called for the enforcement of the ban on night grazing and the arrest of any herder caught grazing at night.
Some Fulani leaders who spoke at the meeting complained about the increase in cattle rustling and isolated killings of their people. However, one Fulani herder told the gathering that 91 cattle were recently rustled but were later recovered with the help of OPEP in Fan District.
Most participants at the engagement resolved to remain peaceful and live in harmony with one another. Farmers called on OPEP to adequately protect them during this year’s farming season to enable them to cultivate peacefully.
Through the Commander, OPEP distributed 50kg bags of fertilizer to farmers as a means of supporting them to boost crop production and promote food security in the state.
Barkin Ladi Local Government Area is one of the most insecurity-prone flashpoints in the state, where many lives have been lost and property worth millions of naira has been destroyed over the years.
The engagement was attended by representatives of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Berom natives, Fulani and Hausa-speaking communities.
