The Management of the Africa Nature Investors (ANI) has broken its silence on the cause of the recent crisis between rangers and farmers in Gumpti National Park, in Gashaka Local Council of Taraba State.

The conflict, which erupted in June 2024, resulted in the deaths of three persons. ANI, in a statement, said the crisis began when a team of rangers who had arrested some persons for clearing significant parts of the park for farming in the Mayo Sabere area in the southern part of the Gashaka Gumti National Park were ambushed and attacked by a large crowd of persons.

According to the statement signed by the Executive Director of ANI, Tunde Morakinyo, the rangers were on a routine patrol in the park. He said: “The rangers tried to prevent a confrontation during the ambush, but it became unavoidable when some attackers attempted to seize their firearms, resulting in various injuries to the rangers.

“Investigation revealed that during the ambush, the rangers took all possible measures to avoid confrontation.” Admitting that the confrontation led to the deaths of three attackers.the management of ANI, according to the statement, had since extended its sincere condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.

The foundation, which announced that it supported women across the communities to establish small and medium enterprises, said it had vaccinated over 150,000 cows at the time of filing this report.