Plateau insecurity: Police interface LG chairmen amidst farming season

From Daniel Dauda, Jos

The Plateau state police command have held an interface with the 17 council chairmen in the state to look at the modalities of addressing farmers-herders clashes as farming activities kick started.

Speaking to Local Government chairmen and Divisional Police officers (DPOs) at the police officers Mess in Jos, Monday, commissioner of police Plateau state command, CP Bartholomew Onyeka said the meeting is very key most especially now that farming season around the corner.

He said ever since assumption of duty in the state as police commissioner about one year five months now, the command in line with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) directive have introduced social and security committee to curb farmers herders clashes.

“I called this meeting for us to work together as a team most especially now that farming season kick starting in earnest.

“It is your responsibility as a chief security officers of your various Locality 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 well thought initiative armed 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 to be perpetrated by enemies of the state in Riyom, Bokkos, Bassa, Barkin Ladi, Jos South Local Governments, arming at disrupting farming activities and destroyed the economy of the state, calling on the Plateau state government to take proactive measures to avert further killings.