Troops Rescue 13-Year-Old Herder After Farm Destruction Dispute in Plateau
By Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) have rescued a 13-year-old herder who was detained by farmers following an alleged farm destruction incident in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 6:20 p.m. on Aug. 1, when troops of Sector 3 OPEP responded to a distress call from Hura Community over the destruction of farmland.
On arrival, the troops discovered that local farmers had apprehended one of the herders, identified as Abdul Mahmudu, 13, while the other herders had fled the area with their cattle.
The troops immediately took the teenager into protective custody to prevent the situation from escalating and to ensure his safety pending further action.
Security sources said Fulani community leaders were contacted to facilitate the resolution of the dispute and identify the owners of the livestock involved.
The sources added that efforts are ongoing to resolve the matter through established conflict-resolution mechanisms in line with ongoing measures to prevent farmer-herder disputes from degenerating into violence across Plateau State.
The incident is one of several farm destruction cases recently handled by Operation Enduring Peace as troops continue to intensify patrols and mediate disputes in flashpoint communities across the state.
