150 houses razed in Nasarawa over herdsmen, farmers’ clash

Experts urge FG to tackle insecurity
No fewer than 150 houses were set ablaze by suspected herdsmen following a misunderstanding between a farmer and a grazer in Amudu village in Giza Development Area, Keana Local Council of Nasarawa State.

The spokesman of the community, Mr. Sidney Shisha, during an interview with The Guardian in Lafia, the state capital, said the crisis started when a farmer, Mr. Uvir Ugbeghar, was accused by a herder of cultivating his farmland on a grazing route.

He said: “Mr. Ugbeghar who is the right owner told the herder that he had been farming on that land and that the place was not a grazing route. But unknown to the farmer, the herder struck him with his stick from behind when he continued making his ridges and he fell down.

“The son of Ugbeghar, who was standing by watching the scenario, reacted by using the Fulani man’s stick to hit him leaving him half dead and ran to the village with his father who was in a coma.

“A day after, the Fulani sent a message to the community threatening to invade.

“About 3:00 p.m., we started hearing sporadic gunshots and everyone fled the village as the Fulani came and burnt down one hundred and fifty houses.

“Nobody was killed because most people had vacated the village except a corps who was burnt in one of the houses.

The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Kennedy Idrisu, who confirmed the incident in a telephone, said: “The police are aware of the incident.”

Meanwhile, stakeholders in the security sector have called on government to look inwards in tackling the menace, resource control and insecurity in the country.

The experts, who spoke at a security seminar organised by Justice, Development and Peace Commission of St. Peter and Paul Church, Oke-Afa, advocated need for the public and private sector to join hands with the government to address the issue of insecurity in the country.

A security practitioner, Chuks Maha, advised on some security tips to ensure peace and safety in the society. These, according to him, include driving habits, use of call cards, having and keeping a dog, use of CCTV cameras at homes and churches and use of whistle-blowing in the neighbourhood, among others.

He said: “The reason people go into crime is to abridge the gap of feeding, education and housing so that their needs could be met.”

Also, a specialist in legal security, Mr. Chris Nwanike, noted that the use of modern device is very important for security.

He stressed the need to have stun guns, pepper spray for self-defence and protection.