The police in Jigawa have arrested and prosecuted nine suspected herders before a Chief Magistrate’s court in Dutse, over violent clashes involving farmers and herders.
A spokesperson for Jigawa State Police Command, LawanShisu Adam, who confirmed the development, said 18 people have so far been arrested out of which the nine suspects were charged to court.
At least eight people sustained injuries in a renewed clash between farmers and Fulani herdsmen in a community in Birnin Kudu Local Council of Jigawa State.
The incident occurred in the Kwarsa community, at forest reserves area allocated to farmers by the Local Council authorities, but was later revoked by the state government.
The state governor, Umar Namadi, had in June, revoked all forest and grassing reserves allocated to individuals in a bid to checkmate the lingering crisis between the farmers and herders in the state.
A spokesperson for the community, Abubakar Zakari, told newsmen that at least eight of their members were injured in farmers/ herders clashes in the last two months.
He claimed that the land was allocated to the farmers by the chairman of the council, where they planted crops during the dry season, before the governor’s pronouncements on the matter.
“The farmland was allocated to us by the Birnin Kudu Local Council chairman three years ago, but since the new government came this year and revoked the land, the herders refused to allow us to harvest what we have planted.
“We have been having issues with the herders following Governor Namadi’s order to revoke grassing and forest reserve areas allocated to farmers across the state,” he said.
He claimed that despite signing two undertakings with both the council chairman and the state’s Commissioner of Police not to further escalate the crisis, it was all to no avail.
At press time, the herders community could not be reached to comment on the incident.
Meanwhile, the police spokesperson denied any undertaking by the Fulani’s to be of good behaviour, saying he was never aware of such a deal.
