Gombe gov’t restores peace between Fulani herders, Tangale farmers

A high powered delegation of the Gombe State Government led by the State Deputy Governor, Manasseh Daniel Jatau, has visited Kaltungo Chiefdom to broker peace between Fulani herders and Tangale farmers following a recent crisis between the two communities.

The Deputy Governor who decried the crises between the farmers and herders in Lapan, Shongom Local Government Area of the State, said it was barbaric and heartless.

The meeting which took place at the Palace of the Mai Kaltungo, Engineer Saleh Mohammed and Lapan in Shongom LGA followed a fight between two persons over farmland, which generated tension and subsequent clashes between the farmers and the herders.

However, the state government’s visit was aimed at drawing the attention of the communities on the need for peaceful coexistence among themselves.

According to the deputy governor, the situation is quite lamentable that people who profess God and religion will be found perpetrating such act of wickedness against humanity.

He said, “From the pictures I have seen about the barbaric acts committed in the affected places in Lapan, it is quite unbelievable that those who committed these claimed to know God.

“Religion teaches us about God and humanity, but where there is no such recognition in our behaviours we become worst than those who didn’t believe in life in the hereafter”.

While appreciating the Mai Kaltungo for always exhibiting his inclination to peace and unity, Jatau vowed that government will not allow the culprits of the clashes go unpunished.

He said, “We will ensure to bring to book every one found directly or indirectly culpable and ensure they are made to face the wrath of the law to serve as deterrent to others.”

Speaking in his Palace in Kaltungo Local Government Area and in Lapan, Shongom Local Government Area, the Mai Kaltungo, Engineer Saleh Mohammed said, the Tangale and the Fulani, (farmers and the herders) in the area have coexisted peacefully for so many years and wondered what came over them to be caught in the web of crises.

He said the two persons who were purported to have been the genesis of the crises fought and wounded themselves and have been apprehended by the security agencies, wondering why some people took advantage of that to escalate the crises.

Leader of Shongom Local Government herders in Kaltungo,  Alhaji Badikko Daudu, noted that they were greatly devastated by the incident but stated that since the Mai Kaltungo has always shown them concern as a father, they are ready to obey whatever he directs.