From Saka Bolaji, Minna
More facts has emerged about the recent Mokwa massacre as it has been claimed that the Niger state Government was alerted of an imminent crisis in the Efogi village in the 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.
National Vice President of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Hussaini Bosso made this disclosure at the police stakeholders meeting with the Deputy Inspector General of Police Mr Shuaibu L Gambo at the police Officers Mess in Minna .
Hussaini Bosso claimed that “when 100 cows belonging to the Fulani herders in the community were killed and one Fulani 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”
However the Special Adviser on Security, Gen. Imam Ndagulu, denied the allegation saying: “ There is no link between the killing of 100 cows and the recent incident, 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?”
Ndagulu said what the government was aware of was that about three months ago there was a crisis between the villagers and the fulanis during which a villager was killed and a fulani mans hand was chopped off.
“ The police is aware of this case and they have been investigating it,” he added.
In an interview with journalists, Hussaini Bosso said that the solution to the frequent clash between fulanis and villagers was for government to apprehend the culprits and prosecute them according to the law of the land.
In addition he said there was need for government to to educate farmers that they should not block “ cattle routes” adding that “ government should also create grazing reserves “ and that grazing during the dry season should be declared illegal.
Meanwgile, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr Shuaibu Gambo, has disclosed that “dialogue is the solution to the frequent clashes between farmers and Fulani herdsmen”.
Gambo said at the stakeholders meeting that the issue of conflict between fulani and farmers “ is receiving attention at the highest level” adding that very soon a solution would be found to it.
He disclosed that a detachment of Marine police would be sent to Mokwa and Katcha towns in Niger state where conflicts between fulanis and herders had been very pronounced.
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