The Military squad codenamed Operation Whirl Stroke’s leadership has pledged commitment to work towards ensuring a harmonious relationship between farmers and herders in its three states’ operational area.

Force Commander of OPWS, Major General Sunday Igbinomwanhia, whose mandate covers Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba states, with headquarters in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, also pledged to ensure lasting and enduring peace between farmers and herders in his areas of responsibility.

The commander disclosed that he intends to hold a joint meeting between the farmers and herders as well as leaders of the groups in order to achieve success in his mission.

He explained that this decision followed the recent attack on herders in Benue State by suspected cattle rustlers leading to the death of two herders and carting away of about 50 cows and 40 sheep, adding that operatives of the OPWS quickly intervened by identifying the families of the deceased and the owners of the rustled cattle to forestall reprisal on innocent citizens.

He, however, warned the herders against grazing at night and also using underaged people to rear cattle, stressing that in view of the Anti-Open Grazing Law that was in place in Benue, herders should endeavor to seek permission from the relevant authorities to provide them safe passage across the state borders.

The force commander promised the herders, who told him that they had suffered several losses through cow rustling and other unwholesome activities, that the Command would carry out proper investigations into their claims with the aim of arriving at an amicable solution.