By POLYCARP AUTA

Alhaji Abubakar Badaru, the Minister of Defence, has urged traditional rulers, religious and community leaders, and heads of security agencies, to work towards tackling the growing insecurity in Plateau.

Badaru, who gave the charge at a meeting with the stakeholders, said the gathering was aimed at fashioning out lasting solutions to the rising security challenges, particularly the clashes between herders and farmers.

?I am highly delighted to be here this afternoon to interact with the critical stakeholders, opinion leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders and other component of the military and security agencies responsible for peace and security in Plateau.

?The aim of this gathering is to interact with stakeholders in the state to fashion out modalities towards addressing the spate of farm destruction and cattle rustling that has culminated into recent attacks and reprisals in some parts of this state.

?My presence here today is to fulfill my mandate as the minister of defence charged with the responsibility of protection of our national territory, both from external and internal aggressions.

?Therefore, I will not relent until the Federal Government and the Ministry of Defence deploy all assets to ensure our people sleep with their eyes closed,? Badaru said.

He reiterated deep worry over resurgence of the killings, farm destruction and cattle rustling in some communities of Plateau.

?I must express my displeasure over the recurring attacks and reprisals that resulted in the loss of lives and property, especially in Jol and Sho communities of Barkin Ladi and Riyom Local Government Areas (LGAs).

?These killings kept recurring in spite of the efforts of our security agencies, especially the 3 Division of the Nigerian Army and Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), to ensure amicable settlements during any incidents involving attacks on cattle or farm destruction.

?I am particularly saddened by the stance of some unscrupulous elements in some communities, who have vowed to disrupt farming activities during the ongoing raining season, in spite of all efforts to resolve the security issues.

?The continuous recurrence of farmer-herder clashes not just in the Plateau, but across other states of the federation is quite worrisome; as nature has made it that both famers and cattle breeders need each other to survive,? he said.

The minister, who said that the security challenges in the state had lingered partly due to negligence on the part of some of leaders at various levels, called on them to live up to their responsibilities.

He called on residents of the state to fish out all bad elements within their communities, insisting that such move would serve as deterrent to other criminals in the state.

Badaru, who warned against peddling of fake news on the happenings, also called on the stakeholders to provide honest suggestions towards tackling insecurity in the state.

Earlier, Maj.-Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 division, thanked the minister for the visit.

Abubakar maintained that the meeting would elicit conversations and meaningful suggestions that would provide lasting solutions to the lingering security challenges in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the minister had on Saturday, held a similar meeting with the Deputy Governor of the state, Mrs Josephine Piyo. (NAN)

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