Segun Babatunde in Bauchi
Bauchi State Governor,Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed wednesday set up a 13- man panel to identify the cause of the communal clash between Fulani farmers and Fulani herders in Zadawa village in Misau Local Government Area of the state.
The media had earlier reported that no fewer than 10 people were reportedly killed while several others sustained injuries during a communal clash between Fulani farmers and Fulani herders in Zadawa village in the Misau Local Government Area of the State.
Addressing journalists shortly after chairing an emergency security meeting at the Council Chamber, Government House, Bauchi, the Governor said the panel headed by Air Commodore Tijjani Baba Gamawa is to submit its report within 3 weeks.
Governor Bala Mohammed said the timely set up of the investigation panel is to enable the state government avert the occurrence of such incident, not only in the area, but across the state in general.
He directed the State Commissioner of Police to mobilise mobile unit in Misau alongside personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in order to provide security in the affected area.
Governor Bala Mohammed who announced the suspension of Misau Caretaker Chairman alongside his deputy and the secretary of the council for failure to control the situation, appointed Isah Kufai as sole administrator of the Local government.
” After we discussed extensively with all the stakeholders on the current happenings in Misau Local Government Area where we had some clashes which resulted in the loss of 9 lives and many injuries, we agreed to look at the situation to avert its reoccurrence.
“Based on the information on our disposal, we have taken measures to to control this very ugly situation, we have decided to suspend the Chairman, his deputy and the Secretary pending the outcome of the investigation panel.”
The Governor while calling on the people of the area to be law abiding, assured that, anyone found culpable will face the full wrath of the law.
He therefore on behalf of the government and people of Bauchi state commiserated with the the deceased family.
It must be recalled that the clash was over ownership of land in the surrounding settlement where herders were located and have been grazing for several years although the land belongs to the government.
The land was to be converted in to a farm by the local government, a development that did not go down well with the herders.
It was gathered that on Monday, the local council officials went to the place with security backing but the herders violently reacted and a clash erupted leading to deaths and injuries. END
