Farmers, Fulani Herder’s Clash: Gov Idris Sets Up Reconciliation C’ttee
From Ayodele Ajoge, Birnin-Kebbi
Governor of Kebbi State, Comrade Dr. Nasir Idris, has waded into the farmers and fulani herdsmen crises in Suru and Koko Besse Local Government Areas of Kebbi State to restore lasting peace and unity in these areas.
Governor Idris who expressed that dialogue is the only panacea for resolving lingering farmers/herders clashes in the country stated this on Sunday when he paid a condolence visit to the people of Suru and Koko/Besse Local Government Areas of the state over clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in the areas.
According to him, the visit was to streamline the issue and kick start settlement process towards restoring peace and stability in the two area.
The governor, who donated N4m to the families of two people killed in the classes, also donated N5m to the remaining eight people who sustained injuries in Suru, while in Besse where two people were missing and one person was killed, the Governor donated N2m to the deceased person while N2m was given to the remaining people who sustained injuries during the crisis.
While describing the rift between Fulani and farmers as an unfortunate act, the governor also promised to bring an end to the crisis in the area through a round table dialogue involving security agencies and other relevant stakeholders.
A reconciliatory committee was set up by the Governor headed by the State Commissioner of Police, Director, Department of Security Service (DSS), Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), District Heads, members State House of Assembly and other relevant stakeholders in the area.
In a separate remarks, the District Head of Suru, Mohammed Bello-Jaguwadeji and District Head of Dustenmari, Alhaji Mohammad Mo’Allahyidi thanked the governor for the sympathy visit, as he attributed the crisis to devilish act.
Narrating the episode to the governor, the Suru Local Government Council Chairman, Mohammed Lawal said the crisis started on Saturday morning when the farmers visited their farmlands and met Fulani herdsmen on heir farms.
The chairman further explained that the farmers enquired from the Fulanis whether they were the ones destroying their crops.
He further pointed out that during the crisis, two people were confirmed dead, while eight people who sustained varying degrees of injuries were responding to treatment in the hospital.
The two affected villages in Suru were ; Kankure village and Tunga Rimi village while in Besse where properties and houses were destroyed, the affected villages were Tunga Mai Rakumi, Runhewan Dulmeru, Sabuwan Kendawa and Limarein.
Governor Idris directed the Chairman, State Emergency Management Agency, (SEMA), Hon. Bello Rilisco to quickly identify the victims and support them with the necessary needed foods items.
