An amicable settlement between farmers and cattle owners has been brokered by troops of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) following a reported case of farmland destruction in Gero Gyel District, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Security analyst Zagazola Makama, in a post on X on Tuesday, said the incident was reported on September 28, when six cattle were intercepted while grazing on the affected farmland.
According to Makama, “Troops of Sector 6, OPEP, invited the parties for dialogue at about 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 29 in an effort to resolve the dispute peacefully.”
He said the agreement followed an engagement that the cattle be released to their owner, Mr Yusuf Abubakar, through the Wakilin Ardo, Abdullahi Shuaibu.
Makama added that the parties agreed on compensation for the reported farm damage, which was assessed at N1 million, leading to the release of the cattle.
The security analyst stated that N750,000 was paid to the representative of the farmers, Mr Ilya Solomon, while the remaining N250,000 was agreed to be paid on or before October 12, 2026.
The intervention is part of ongoing efforts by security agencies and community stakeholders in Plateau State to prevent disputes involving farmers and herders from escalating into wider communal violence and promote mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence.
According to Makama, such mediation remains critical to maintaining peace and strengthening community confidence in security operations across the OPEP area of responsibility.
