Bauchi Gov Mediates in Herders, Farmers Unrest in Darazo
By Umar Moh’d
Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed of Bauchi State in his determination to bring to an end the unfortunate unrest between suspected Fulani Herdsmen and farmers has facilitated a truce meeting between Fulani herders and farmers in Nahutan Darazo town of Darazo Local Government Area of the State to restore peace and harmony in the area.
Gov Bala Mohammed
This meeting that took place over the weekend was chaired by the Governor himself after three weeks of tension and uncertainty, hence the peace meeting that was reached during a peace meeting.
Governor Bala during the reconciliation meeting registered his displeasure with the unrest but commended all parties for reaching a consensus during the meeting.
The Governor urged the communities in the area to shun all acts that could lead to violence and advised the people to be law-abiding and to ensure they live in peace with one another,”
The governor who was accompanied by the Commissioner of Police, assured that the state government is taking all necessary measures to prevent clashes between Fulani herders and farmers in the state.
The reconciliation meeting was attended by representatives of Fulani herders and the farming community, a member of the House of Representative, Hon. Mansur Manu Soro, the Local Government Council Chairman as well as members of the State House of Assembly representing Darazo local government and traditional and community leaders in the area
Governor Bala also announced the constitution of a committee to look into the issues that use to bring disagreement between farmers and Harders in the area, saying the committee is expected to re-establish the defunct cattle routes and identify grazing reserves which have not been adequately utilized and darmarcate the areas which State Government allocated to farmers.
The Governor warned that not all lands were allocated by the government in Sade and Darazo forest but only 2,500 hectares of land each in Sade and Darazo forest reserves was allocated for farming activities, as part of efforts to boost food production.
He noted with concern how some lands, local Government officials and traditional rulers also illegally allocated additional lands inside the reserves to other farmers for their own interest where he directed that all those illegal allocations most be revoked and frowned at some farmers who use to give some hectares of farmlands allocated to them to other poor farmers on hire basis.
” if you can’t farm the land allocated to you , don’t give it to poor farmers on hire basis , or we will revoke the allocation and allocate it to people who will use it for farming activities ”
He condemned the recent violence and called for calm and restraint from all parties, assuring that his administration would strengthen mediation efforts and adopt further measures to ensure peaceful coexistence.
The Governor reiterated his administration’s commitment in enhancing security and social harmony across Bauchi State.
He said that peace remains a shared responsibility among government, community leaders, and citizens alike.
In their contributions, Fulani community leaders Mallam Bala and Ahmadu Laddo, explained that Darazo and Sade forest reserve areas have fertile land suitable for farming and grazing, but farmers are trying to take over all the reserve to the extent that herders can’t even get a place with their livestock.
They said Forest reserves in Darazo Local Local Government area are safest reserve with no cattle rustling but today farmers want to force herders out of the reserve.
