From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia
Police authorities in Nasarawa state have identified rumour mongering as a major cause of the crisis involving Tiv farmers and Fulani herdsmen across parts of the state.
Newly appointed Commissioner of Police in Nasarawa, Idris Kpotun Ibrahim, in his first official parley with the media, yesterday disclosed that having studied the security situation around the Benue/Nasarawa border communities, stressing that almost 70 percent of the problems encountered centers around rumours.
“There are allegations that Fulani are forced to leave Benue to Nasarawa, there are allegations that the Tivs, out of fear are leaving Nasarawa state and going back to Benue”, he said.
CP Idris said the police have taken measures to curtail the situation, explaining that the police has held series of meetings involving traditional rulers from across the state as well as Tiv and Fulani community leaders.
“What we adiscussed with the emirate council was for traditional rulers to reach out to their people and to enlighten them on the need to disregard rumours making the people to run helter skelter”, the CP added.
While urging the affected communities to disregard rumours of alleged attacks, CP Idris called on fleeing community members to remain in their domain, as according to him, “there is commitment on the part of both the security agencies and traditional rulers to ensure that peace reigns in the state.”
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