The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Shuaibu Gambo, has disclosed that dialogue is the solution to the frequent clashes between farmers and Fulani herdsmen.

Gambo who is in charge of the north central region said that the issue of conflict between Fulanis and farmers “Is receiving attention at the highest level,” adding that very soon a solution would be found to it.

He urged the people, to be sincere in their discussions hence, he was in the state sequel to the directive of the Inspector General of Police IGP, Ibrahim Idris who called for the cooperation of the public in finding solutions to the present security challenges facing the nation.

He stated that a detachment of Marine Police would be sent to Mokwa and Katcha towns in Niger State where conflicts between Fulanis and herdsmen had been very pronounced.

However, it has been claimed that the Niger State Government was alerted of an imminent crisis in the Epogi village in Mokwa Local Government Area of the state where not less than 27 people including the Chief Imam of the village were killed on Saturday morning.

The National Vice President of the Mayetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Hussaini Yusuf, levelled the allegation at the Police stakeholders meeting with DIG Shuaibu Gambo.

Hussaini Yusuf said, “When 100 cows belonging to the Fulani herders in the community were killed and one man was also killed, I personally reported the case to the Special Adviser on security to the State Governor, General Imam Ndagulu Rtd, that: “Government should do something about this situation urgently because there will be trouble.

“I also reported to the Etsu Nupe who is the Head of the traditional rulers in the Emirate, the Etsu Nupe called a meeting of the villagers and the herders but the villagers refused to attend the meeting.”

Yusuf further said that the solution to the frequent clash between Fulani and villagers was for the government to apprehend the culprit and persecute them according to the law of the land.

He also said that there was the need for government to educate farmers that they should not block cattle route, adding that government should also create grazing reserves and that grazing during the dry season should be declared Illegal.

However, the Special Adviser on Security, General Imam Ndagulu denied the allegation saying: “There is no link between the killing of 100 cows and the recent incident, the government is not aware of the claim, not even the Police was aware, the event has no bearing.

“Can they show anyone where 100 cows were killed that will result in this type of killing?”

General Ndagulu said, what the government was aware of was about three months ago there was a crisis between the villagers and the Fulanis during which a villager was killed and a Fulani man’s hand was cut off.

“The Police is aware of this case and they have been investigating it” (Channels TV)

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