Taraba Community Seeks Strict Enforcement of Open Grazing Prohibition Law
By Martins Abochol
JThe Munga Dosso community in Karim Lamido local government area of Taraba has appealed to the state government to ensure strict enforcement of its anti-open grazing law to address herders and farmers conflicts in the state.
Mr Robert Bukar, Youth Leader of the community made the appeal on Monday while briefing newsmen in Jalingo.
The Munga Dosso community has come under an attack suspected to be from herders, killing scores of residents.
Bukar noted that the bill to that effect was signed into law by the former Governor Darius Ishaku in 2018.
He said the enforcement of the law would address the lingering farmers/herders conflicts in the state.
He also decried absence of government’s representatives to the crisis affected community.
He also said that the community was left to it faith at the time 12 members of the community were killed by the herders and were given mass burial.
“Notably, no government representative from federal, state, or local levels visited the community after this incident.
“We have a senator, a house of representatives member, a state assembly member, yet non deemed necessary to visit us and to listen to our lamentations.
“As a peace-loving community we always report all incidents and seeking assistance from security agencies, which our Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, promptly provided.
However, we were disappointed by the lack of government representation at the mass burial, where officials failed to commiserate with our people.
” It is true that the state government sent relief materials to the victims but relief materials is not our problem. We expected their solidarity at this time that we need them most.
“Each of these tragedies represents not just individual losses but also the deepening rifts fueled by distrust and desperation.
“The aftermath of such violence has tragically resulted in not only fatalities but also a significant number of injuries and displacements.
“It has led to a humanitarian crisis that requires urgent attention. Families are left to mourn their loved ones, while survivors grapple with trauma and insecurity.
“Access to essential resources has become increasingly challenging, complicating efforts for community stability,” Bukar cried out.
Bukar also decried the injustice the community had suffered from security operatives.
He alleged that their people were often arrested and were sent to prison for any crime they committed but Filani criminals were being released from security custody without delay.
“Moreover, in all these, our people are often arrested and from police station to prison but none of the perpetrators are brought to justice.
“It is only in the recent crisis that the Fulani were arrested with assault rifles by the divisional police headquarters in Karim Lamido but were released the next day to go and continue their normal routine attack,” Bukar said.
The youth leader also appealed to government to increase security deployment to allow farmers to safely return to their farms.
He also requested Gov. Agbu Kefas of Taraba to ensure that the recently constituted administrative committee of enquiry carry out a thorough investigation to apprehend and punish the perpetrators of the recent attacks.
