Herders/Farmers Clashes: Plateau Police Command Parleys with LG Chairmen, DPOs
By Daniel Agada, Jos
To avert herders/farmers clashes, especially during this year’s farming season, the Plateau state Police Command has held a meeting with the 17 Local government chairmen in the state.
Speaking to Local Government Chairmen and Divisional Police officers (DPOs) at the police officers Mess in Jos, on Monday, the State’s Commissioner of Police, CP Bartholomew Onyeka said the meeting is very key most especially now that farming season is around the corner.
Since assumption of office as State’s Police Commissioner about one year and five months, CP Bartholomew Onyeka, in line with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) directive has introduced social and security committee to curb incessant farmers herders clashes.
“I called this meeting for us to work together as a team most especially now that farming season is kick starting in earnest.
“It is your responsibility as chief security officers of your various localities to help the Police and other security outfits in your domain. Through your collaboration we can move a mountain that cannot be moved.
“We will not rest in our oars as far as Community Policing is concerned. Therefore, keep furnishing us with tangible information to end crime and criminality in the state.
The Chairman of Shendam LGA, Hon.Alex Naantuam who also double as ALGON Chairman in the state applauded the CP for the well thought out initiative aimed at ensuring a crime free society.
Naantuam believed that the interface is another avenue created for the local government administrators to come together and cross-breed ideas as each local government had its own peculiarity.
Recall some communities in Plateau have witnessed incessant killings as a result of attacks by gunmen, the situation that prompted protests from community members as they called for the removal of the personnel of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), and to be replaced by the Mobile Police.
Also, the coalition of Plateau youths raised alarm over a coordinated attacks perpetrated by enemies of the state in Riyom, Bokkos, Bassa, Barkin Ladi, Jos South Local Governments, aimed at disrupting farming activities and destroy the economy of the state, calling on the Plateau state government to take proactive measures to avert further killings.
