Plateau Fulani Face Off: OPSH Moves To Halt Possible Attack

The joint multi disciplinary task force mandated to restore peace on the Plateau, code name, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), yesterday held a town-hall meeting with the Fulani settlers in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State aimed at halting possible attacks that might arise as a result of land grabbing between the Fulani and the natives.

Addressing community leaders at the forum, the OPSH Commander, Major General Nicholas Rogers, assured that his command will synergise with the Plateau State government in a bid to resolving land and boundary issues between both factions.

The Fulani district heads had however complained that the natives (Tarok) had sized their lands in the crisis that has hitherto rocked the community and has also move to install chiefs in the sized lands refusing to recognize the Emir of Wase as their paramount ruler.

The district heads complained that all lands taken from the Taroks by the Fulani, has long been returned, but that the native has refused to reciprocate, saying that their refusal might take them back to the dark days of incessant crisis.

Responding, the Army boss assured that no land will be lost as legitimate steps will be taken within the law to resolve all land issues, stressing that no one is permitted to go contrary to the law.

However the Tarok community leaders were not present at the forum to respond to the alleged land grabbing.

Recall that in late June 2016, the Plateau Youth G17 Peace and Progressive Forum, took to the streets of Jos, in protest against what they termed “land grabbing under the guise of grazing reserve”, saying that the grazing reserve idea is akin to giving land to a group who has already taking it by force.

The forum argued that their communities have been ravaged by the Fulani militants and that about thirty villages has already been forcefully occupied by the Fulani, they said.