Niger: Kpata-Katcha community seeks Buhari intervention over crisis

From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna.

The people of Kpata-Katcha in Mokwa local government of Niger State have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently intervene in their continued crisis as they were displaced and cannot return to their ancestral homes for over one year.
The spokesperson of the community, Dr. Saganuwan Alhaji Saganuwan an Associate Prof. of Pharmacology, Department of Veterinary Pharmacology/Toxicology, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi expressed worry that Katch people have taken over their town, economy, looted and destroyed their properties while threatening them with arms.
While briefing newsmen at the weekend in Minna, Saganuwan however berated Governor Abubakar Sani Bello for not doing much to resolve the dispute while the Judicial Commission of Inquiry (JCI) set up couldn’t carry out an in-depth investigation into the matter historically however, was bias and all the submissions were jettison by the commission, he alleged.
He further accused the Sheshi Katcha who is the traditional ruler of Katcha of instigating the attack on the people of Kpata- Katcha because they are more educated, socially, economically and politically blessed hence they vested their anger and frustration on them, while alleging that the earlier security sent to ensure peace had compromised.
Dr Saganuwan stated that Kpata- Katcha did not accept the White Paper Report (WPR) by the state government implementation committee because it has failed to handle the crisis, warning the Governor on his plans to relocate Kpata- Katcha people to unknown area.
“Members of Ibrahim Panti committee on implementation of the white paper on kangaroo findings, Office of the Cabinet and lukewarm attitude of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello have sabotage the brazen effort of Etsu Nupe Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar towards peace” he said.
“I hereby call on President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency take a decisive long lasting measures towards bringing lasting peace and tranquility to the two communities and bring the irate youths who perpetuate the war to face the wrath of the law” he added.
It could be recalled that the crisis erupted between Kpata- Katcha and Katcha communities in Katcha local government sometimes on 30th April 2018 where one person was killed others injured and properties worth millions of naira was destroyed which includes houses, vehicles and other valuables.