Farmers/Headers Clashes: Buni Meets Stakeholders On Lasting Solution

Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni has met with the traditional rulers and other stakeholders of Ngelzarma, Jajere, the local government chairman, and Miyetti Allah leaders to solve the herders/farmers crisis.

Governor Buni, represented by his deputy, Hon Idi Barde Gubana, chaired the security council meeting at the Government House, Damaturu.

Gubana disclosed that the security meeting was an extraordinary and expanded emergency directed by Governor Mai Mala Buni to review and analyse the security situation across the state and ensure that citizens are safe and their property is protected.

He further explained that the harvesting period usually comes with a crisis, and there is a need to keep a close watch to avoid clashes between farmers and herders, especially with the bumper harvest recorded this season.

According to him, Security is the present administration’s top priority, under the purposeful leadership of His Excellency Governor Mai Mala Buni.

He commended the Security agencies for their effort in ensuring peace, law and order in the state.

The meeting equally appreciated the effort of traditional rulers and community leaders in conflict resolution in their various domains.

Gubana described that, as part of the effort to enhance security, the government had donated two (2) Toyota Hilux out of his convoy vehicles to facilitate the movement of security on surveillance and health workers on immunisation in Fune and Gujba Local government areas.

He urged the traditional rulers to maintain their oldest traditions and strategies for monitoring the movement of suspicious elements in their respective domains.

For his part, Brigadier General Dahiru Abdulsalam (Rttd), the special adviser on security matters, assured that Security agencies would intensify surveillance and patrol activities in their areas to stop the menace of herder clashes and other criminal activities.

Similarly, the meeting agreed on utilising and implementing conflict resolution mechanisms, intensifying surveillance and prompt response to security matters, sensitisation engagement and enlightenment campaign, and proactive measures by the stakeholders and community leaders.

Others are the use of technology and energy for intelligence gathering, the use of illicit drugs among the youths, which requires a collective effort to address or reduce, the Establishment of water points for rearers, the re-establishment of grazing reserves, and the Control of migrants or seasonal visitors from neighbouring countries to safeguard and protect farmers from escalating malicious attacks.

The Governor appealed to the State’s people to continue supporting the Security agencies and providing necessary information to enjoy relative peace.