The Coalition of Concerned Plateau Elders (COCPE) has commended the Special Military Taskforce in Plateau State codenamed Operation Save Haven (OPSH) for restoring peace in the state.

The organisation also appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to see reason by supporting a proposed law to ban open grazing in the state, saying such development would permanent bring the state back to its known peace.

While expressing happiness that Plateau State, which used to be a hotbed of ethnic and religious antagonism, is beginning to bounce back, COCPE particularly thanked the OPSH in the state, for restoration of the much needed peace.

The National Chairman of COCPE, Dr Pam Davou, who made the commendation during a one-day Peace Advocacy Submit, said the group owed the task force immeasurable appreciation for the great work it has done in the state which resulted in the present peace by enjoyed by citizens.

According to him, the coalition also declared their total support and cooperation to OPSH.

“In the last three months, we have seen the Commander of OPSH and his men personally engaging stakeholders and communities, religious bodies and other interest groups on peace advocacy and this is seriously building mutual trust between us and the Fulanis.

“Aside the new security strategies, we now see in our villages where the task force is seen unbiasedly policing every nook and cranny of the state unlike in the past, it is quite appreciable,” Dr Davou said.

COCPE, according to him, also thanked the Nigeria Army leadership for posting a professional and experience officer in the person of Major General Anthony Atolagbe to head the special task force in Jos.

Atolagbe’s peace building efforts on the Plateau, he said, has no doubt, restored relative peace and confidence among all residents of Plateau State, adding: “And we as Coalition of Concern Plateau Elders must commend them for the very first time.”

Turning to the participants at the summits, Davou said: “I am therefore calling on all of you here to give our security men information that will lead to nipping any threat in the bud and also see peace as task that must be done because all Fulani's are not troublesome and all Plateau men are not peaceful hence we must do everything humanly possible to leave together.”

COCPE declared its total support for the proposed bill banning open grazing in Plateau and opined that the bill when passed into law, will bring about total peace in the state.

It described the proposed bill as not only timely but also needful and called on all Nigeria’s to support it in its entirety.

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