Bauchi community accuses traditional rulers of land grabbing

From Paul Orude Bauchi

Some residents of Tulu village in Lame District of Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State have accused the Ward Head of forcefully taking their lands .

They alleged that the ward head was conniving  with the  village Head of Tulu to carry out the illegal act.

One if the victims, Alhaji Shehu Yerima Tulu, disclosed this while speaking on behalf of the affected residents of Tulu Community to Journalists on Friday in Bauchi.

He said the modus operandi used by the Ward head Tashan Tulu, Sarki Umaru Bunu was to come and look for suitable farmland and claimed it belonged to him .

“He did that to many residents of Tulu Community by forcefully acquiring their farm lands and plots which he sold to others,” he allege.

“We are the original owners of the  farmlands acquired by our parents and grandparents for over  thirty to forty years.

“Not less than 25 Community members suffered these consequences from the Ward head Umar Bunu”

Yerima Tulu explained that his farm land was acquired by his father for over forty years and his father stopped using the farmlands and was handed to him.

“I have been using the farmland for 30 years,” he said 

.”When my father gave it to me, the Ward head Umar Bunu said the farm belonged to them, therefore the farm should be divided into three. He would take two parts while I take one part.

“When I told my father Yahaya Yerima who is still alive, he said the farmlands were sold to him by the father of the Ward head of Tulu so the farm belongs to him”.

He explained further  that the matter was taken before the village head of Tulu Alhaji Adamu Yakubu eight times without reconciliation.

“We began to suspect the Village Head Yakubu of conniving with the ward Head  to forcefully take away our farmlands,” he lamented.

“In fact the matter was before the District head of lame for two times without resolution, so we are calling on the government to intervene and retrieve our farmlands from them,” he said.

The spokesman of Tulu community also accuse the Ward Head Bunu and has allegedly claims some lands before threatening to collect from the Residents of .

While responding, the Village Head of Tulu Alhaji Adamu Yakubu denied the allegations, saying he is not part of it.

Yakubu denied allegations of the illegal farmlands acquisition and grabbing