Fulani leaders abandon Plateau peace parley over reports of cattle rustling

A peace meeting is currently ongoing in Plateau.

Reports from Shendam in Plateau State indicate that some Fulani youth and leaders abandoned a peace parley with officials of the Special Task Force, STF, in the state after they received information that some cattle rustlers were stealing their cows.

The peace meeting, which was holding at the Shendam stadium, under the chairmanship of the STF Commander, Henry Ayoola, was called to find a solution to the lingering crisis between the Fulani and other residents of the affected areas. Hundreds of people have been killed in ethno-religious crisis in Plateau in the past one year.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that one of the Fulani leaders at the meeting, Usman, reportedly called ‘home’ to find out position of things and was told that cattle rustlers were ‘operating’ in the area.

“He now informed the others of what was going on, and they just stormed out, obviously to go and protect their cattle,” said a source attending the meeting.

The source however said Mr. Ayoola prevailed on some of the Fulani leaders to remain behind. The meeting was still ongoing as 1:30 p.m.

Some other attendees at the meeting include the state Commissioner of Police, Chris Olakpe; Commissioner of Information, Yiljap Abraham; and seven local government chairmen from Shendam, Quanpan, Kanam, Wase, Mikang, and Langtan North and South, and other community leaders.

More details later…