Berom nation, Fulani community partner on peace

The position was taken during a peace meeting convened by the Commander, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), Major General Dominic Onyemelu, held at the headquarters of Operation Safe Haven, in Jos.

The Dagwom Rwey of Riyom, Da. Samuel Mwadkon Jok and Dagwom Rwey of Kuru, Da. Patrick Mandung, signed the peace document submitted by the Berom Nation.

They said: “We wish to appeal for more efforts in arresting those involved in acts of killings, night grazing, deliberate destruction of crops on farms and rustling of cattle. This, to a large extent, will address the security problems we are facing today.

“We call for honest implementation of past recommendations, arrest and prosecution of all those killers who are moving freely on the streets. We wish to suggest that the Plateau Council of Chiefs be involved in the dialogue.”

Da. Jok, who submitted the report to the STF Commander, said the implementation of recommendations of a white paper released by Plateau State Government in 2015 would go a long way towards addressing the security challenges between the Berom and Fulani.

Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Muhammad Nuru, who presented the position of the Fulani community in Jos South and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas, said: “Nomadic schools be revisited and re-established where necessary. Structures, teachers and other school equipment should be adequately provided to the schools.

A call also has been made to the government to, as a matter of fact, issue Fulani children indigent certificates to allow them further their education beyond secondary schools.

“Henceforth, harassment, intimidation, discrimination, dehumanisation, threatening, injuring, killing and beating of cattle rearers under any guise should stop without any compromise.”

Major General Dominic Onyemelu said the command would not accept any act of criminality, killings, destruction of farmland and cattle rustling.

He noted that the traditional rulers will be held responsible of any crime committed in their localities and urged the leaders to preach peace to their subjects.