By Danjuma Attah, Gombe
An expanded Security Council Meeting in Gombe State was held following communal clashes between local farmers and herders that claimed a life with many others seriously wounded.
Heightened weeks of tension escalated into a physical confrontation in Lano town, Yamaltu-Deba LGA over the weekend where local farmers and Fulani herders used bows and arrows against each other which resulted in the death of one person after being rushed to the hospital.
An eye witness had told newsmen that during the clash on Saturday in the night on the Deba highway, the Fulani herdsmen ran into the bush when Police arrived at the scene of the conflict.
Confirming the incident, the Gombe State Police Command, through it’s spokesmen, ASP Buhari Abdullahi, explained that a group of youths from Lano barricaded Lano to Deba highway and attacked Fulani herders who were crossing from Kuri town.
Buhari said the Lano youths cut and killed the cows of the Fulani herders on the suspicion that the Fulani herders collected phones from their people in the farms and prevented them from conveying their farm produce to their houses.
He said, “a Police officer led a team of Policemen to the scene where five cows were seen killed by the youths. In an effort to contain the situation, stakeholders from Lano Village were called to caution their youths to go back home.
“Elders from the Fulani herders were also advised to talk to the Fulani in the area to desist from taking the laws into their hands. Unfortunately, some youths from Lano refused to listen and pursued the Fulani herders to the bush and as a result, three persons were shot with bows and arrows on the leg and in the stomach.
“The victims were rushed to the General Hospital Deba for medical attention, but later referred to the Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe where the one shot on the stomach died while receiving treatment”. The Police pointed out that normalcy had since returned to the area.
But rising from the expanded State Security Council Meeting chaired by the Gombe State Deputy Governor, Manasseh Daniel Jatau, Monday afternoon, no interview was granted to journalists on the outcome of the meeting.
A Communiqué was however issued Monday night where the Council stated that “The issue of farmers-herders’ conflicts has generally declined, except in a few LGAs where the problem has increased this year”.
Some parts of the Communiqué also reads: “The review indicates an increase in cattle rustling activities and associated kidnappings, largely due to the influx of rustlers and kidnappers from neighbouring states
“To mitigate security threats, the State and Local Governments will strengthen the farmers-herders committee.
“Surveillance and patrols will be intensified across the state, with constant communication to contain the activities of cattle rustlers and other violent criminals”, the Communiqué reads in part.
The Security Council extended it’s appreciation to all security stakeholders and the general public for maintaining relative peace in the state.
The Council also stated that the communique reflects the ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all residents in Gombe State.
