The Yobe State government has indicated the possibility of imposing restrictions on motorcycle usage in certain communities recently targeted by suspected herders. This decision emerged from an extended emergency meeting led by Governor Mai Mala Buni on Friday.
During a closed-door session, Commissioner of Police for the Yobe State Command, Garba Ahmed, briefed the media on the meeting’s conclusions. The state government’s resolution includes employing conflict resolution mechanisms, ensuring leadership accountability, responding promptly to security alerts, and implementing proactive measures by stakeholders. These steps aim to prevent potential conflicts between farmers and herders.
Additionally, the government plans to conduct a thorough investigation into the reported incidents, focusing on identifying and addressing the root causes of the problems at hand.
He identified other strategies to include: “Networking for the purpose of intelligence gathering, drug abuse by the youth should be addressed, demarcation of cattle routes, establishment of grazing reserves, water points, control of immigrant nomads, constitution of a committee to douse tension among the conflicting parties.”
In his opening remarks, Governor Buni, represented by his deputy, Idi Barde Gubana described the recent disturbances perpetrated by some miscreants in Gurjaji village as unfortunate.
The meeting was attended by top government officials, legislators, Commander 27 Task Force Brigade, Police Commissioner, Commandant NSCDC, NCS, NIS Director DSS, Special Adviser on Security Matters to the Governor, among others.
It was reported that suspected herders invaded Gurjaji village in Fika local government area of Yobe State, killed one person, set ablaze houses, and displaced many households.
