Troops of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) have mediated a dispute between farmers and a cattle owner following an alleged destruction of farmland in Gero Gyel District, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The dispute was reported on September 28 after six cattle were intercepted while grazing on the affected farmland, according to security analyst Zagazola Makama.
Makama said troops of Sector 6, OPEP, brought the parties together for dialogue on September 29 to prevent the dispute from escalating.
Following the meeting, the cattle were released to their owner, Yusuf Abubakar, through the Wakilin Ardo, Abdullahi Shuaibu, after an agreement was reached on compensation for the damaged farmland.
The damage was valued at ₦1 million. The cattle owner paid ₦750,000 to the farmers’ representative, Ilya Solomon, while the remaining ₦250,000 is expected to be paid by October 12, 2026.
The mediation is part of efforts by security agencies to resolve farmer-herder disputes peacefully and prevent local disagreements from developing into wider conflict.
The Gero area has recorded previous tensions involving farming and herding communities, including an August incident in which cattle were reportedly killed and others rustled.
