Herdsmen, farmers crisis: Zamfara shunning meetings, says c’ttee chair

From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

The Brigadier General Umar Ibrahim-led Committee on Farmers/Herders crisis constituted by the Minister of Defence, Brigadier General Mansur Dan Ali (rtd) under the Ministry of Defence aimed at finding solutions to lingering security challenges across affected states in the nation, has lamented being avoided by the Zamfara state government.
At a press conference by the 8-man committee at Karma Hotel in Gusau, Zamfara state capital yesterday, the Chairman of the Committee, Brigadier General Umar Ibrahim lamented that, the Zamfara state government has declined to appear for meeting and not extending any effort towards conducting a round table discussion with a view to achieve the mission.
According to Ibrahim, the committee was constituted by the Defence Minister to look into the lingering clashes between the Fulani herdsmen and farmers especially in Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Katsina and Zamfara states with a view to restore the lost cordial relationship, peace and perfect unity.
“We visited Taraba, Nasarawa, Benue Katsina and we were warmly received by the officials of the listed states but, to my surprise, nobody from either the state government or any of the stakeholders in the state for reason best known to them.
“It is only when we sat with the government officials and or the stakeholders in any of the targeted state, that my committee would be served with authentic record that feature the nature of happenings upon which the solutions would be deliberated as observed in the states we visited,” the General has stated.
Responding on whether the committee had taken due steps to adequately serve the state government notice of the visit, and what would be the next line of action, the committee chairman stressed that, proper channels have been used in notifying relevant contacts from the state government side before the visit.
“The Zamfara state government and other integral bodies on security matters were not taken unaware, the committee’s tour was heralded out right away from its inaugural stage to the departure for the targeted states,” General Umar said.
The Chairman further informed that, the committee would compile it’s report for submission back to the Minister of Defence, Brigadier General Mansur Dan Ali who, will subsequently submit to President Muhammadu Buhari for actions.