Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The military Joint Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace, has issued a stern warning to residents of five local government areas in Plateau State against cattle rustling and the destruction of farmlands during the farming season, declaring that anyone caught fomenting trouble would be dealt with decisively. The General Officer Commanding 3 Division, Nigerian Army, and Commander of Operation Enduring Peace, Major General Folusho Oyinlola, delivered the warning during a stakeholders’ engagement held in Shendam Local Government Area on May 27, 2026. The meeting brought together community leaders, traditional rulers, women and youth representatives from Shendam, Mikang, Langtang North, Langtang South and Qua’an-Pan local government areas, all of which have been recurrent flashpoints for deadly farmer-herder clashes in recent years.
Speaking through the Chief of Staff of 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 conflicts. He stressed that lawful channels already exist for resolving disputes between farmers and herders, and he urged residents not to take the law into their own hands. “During this farming season, no life should be lost because of rustled cattle, nor should any farmland be destroyed by hoodlums,” the GOC 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.” His remarks underscored the military’s determination to prevent a repeat of the devastating cycle of reprisal attacks that has historically disrupted agricultural livelihoods across the state. 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, the 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. The stakeholders’ meeting represents the military’s latest push to consolidate security gains in Plateau State, where the Joint Task Force has conducted coordinated clearance operations and stop-and-search measures across the Jos metropolis in recent weeks, dismantling illegal arms networks and intercepting armed suspects. The deployment of 850 additional troops to the state in April 2026 had signaled the government’s resolve to stabilise the region, and the current warning serves as a reminder that the military will not tolerate any relapse into violence.
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