Bauchi Gov Brokers Truce Between Fulani Herders and Farmers in Darazo, Averts Bloodshed

From Paul Orude Bauchi

Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed of Bauchi State has brokered a truce between warring Fulani herders and farmers in Nahutan community in Darazo town of Darazo Local Government  Area in the central part of the State.

His effort was aimed at fostering lasting peace and harmony in what would have led to bloody clash and loss of lives and property.

The Governor brokered peace between the warring parties after three weeks of tension and uncertainty, reached during a peace meeting convened by him on Sunday.

Governor Mohammed commended all parties for reaching a consensus during the meeting,  urging them to embrace  lasting peace. 

He advised all the people in the area to be law-abiding and lived in peace with one another.

The governor assured that the state government would take all necessary measures to prevent clashes between Fulani herders and farmers in Bauchi State.

The peace meeting was attended by representatives of Fulani herders and the farming community, in Darazo, the member representing  Darazo/Ganjuwa in.the House of Representative , Mansur Manu Soro, the Local Government Council Chairman, House of Assembly members , and traditional and community leaders and other Stakeholders from the area.

The Governor announced the constitution of a committee to look into the torny issues that often lead to disagreement between farmers and Herders in Darazo.

Among the terms of reference of the  committee, he disclosed, include establishment of the defunct cattle routes,  identify grazing reserves which have not been adequately utilized. and demarcate  areas the State Government allocated to farmers.

He revealed that fields allocated in Sade and Darazo forest was 2,500 hectares of land each allocated for farming activities, as part of effort to boost food sufficiency.

Governor  Mohammed expressed  concern that lands officials ,local Government officials and traditional rulers also illegally allocated additional lands inside the reserves to other farmers for their own interest.

He directed the revocation  of all illegal allocation and frown at some farmers who use to give some portions of farmlands allocated to them to other poor farmers on hire basis.

“If you can’t till the land allocated to you , don’t give it to poor farmers on hire basis or  else we will have no choice  than to revoke the land and re-allocate it to people who will use it for farming activities, ” he warned.

He condemned the recent violence between Herders and farmers in Darazo which led to some sustaining  serious injuries and called for calm and restraint from all parties.

He assured residents that his administration would strengthen mediation efforts and adopt further measures to ensure peaceful coexistence, reiterating his administration’s commitment to promoting security and social harmony across the State. 

He said that peace remains a shared responsibility among government, community leaders, and citizens alike.

Giving an overview of the situation, the  Commissioner of Police , Sani Omolori said a unit of policemen was deployed to maintain law and order.

In their separate  remarks, Fulani community leaders Mallam Bala and Ahmadu Laddo, explained that Darazo and Sade forest reserves areas had fertile land suitable for farming and grazing, but farmers were trying to usurp  all the reserve to the extent that herders could not even get place with their livestock.

Bala said Forest reserves in Darazo Local Local Government are safest reserve no cattle rustling but today farmers want to force herder s out of the reserve.

They alleged that sometimes if their wives enter town some farmers attacked them , they complained to security agencies and traditional rulers.

Representative of Farmers Mallam Lawal Babayo and Mai unguwa Nadada, alleged that herders attacked them violently and injured many in their effort to prevent them from farming in their allocated farms.

They claimed  that some of them hired the farms for one farming season but since they prevent them from farming which means they may  find it difficult to get bumper harvest.

They recalled  that last two years they had bumper harvest in their farms in Sade and Darazo forest reserves but this year’s herders attacked them , and the matter was reported  to the Police and traditional rulers.

Meanwhile, many speakers at the truce meeting commended the Governor’s initiative which is expected to result  in a positive impact by, promoting peace and stability.

They advocated for  continued collaboration and cooperation among stakeholders towards the success of this initiative.

“Governor Mohammed ‘s contribution to the peace initiative cannot be quantified, and explained that being fair and just to all parties is what will guarantee peace and tranquillity among conflicting parties,” one of the Stakeholders who attended the meeting convened by the governor stated.