The Niger State government evicted about
200 Fulani herders from the state and moved them to Kaduna State over
the weekend, Daily Trust gathered yesterday.
The herders who were said to have
arrived the state a week ago, first settled in Biri forest with their
cattle but later left as the forest is a military shooting range. They
had to leave their cattle under the care of a few among them while the
rest went in search of alternative places to settle, hence the choice of
Gulu village in Shiroro Local Government Area.
But members of the Gulu community became apprehensive on sighting such number of herders planning to settle in their community, and raised an alarm by reporting the matter to the authorities. It was gathered that the state government did not only order the immediate eviction of the herders from the state but also provided trucks to evacuate them back to Kaduna State, from where they came.
The North/Central zonal Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Isma’ila Rebe, in a chat with Daily Trust frowned at the government action, saying the herders are harmless and that they were forced to relocate to the state after losing their grazing land in Rijana village of Kaduna State.
“They are from Rijana in Kaduna State. They had relocated to Biri in Niger State after their grazing land in Rijana was sold to members of the public. They are harmless herders”, he said.
Niger State governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, said the herders must be evicted considering the insecurity in the country, and advised that if the need for movement in such number arises they should always liaise with their association so that government would be adequately informed.
Aliyu who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on nomadic matters, Sadiq Abubakar, said contrary to rumours the herders were only 40 and are all members of one family. He added that the state government provided four trucks for the evacuation. Abubakar denied the presence of heavily armed security personnel during the evacuation, saying only five men each from the police and State Security Service were deployed for the exercise.
But members of the Gulu community became apprehensive on sighting such number of herders planning to settle in their community, and raised an alarm by reporting the matter to the authorities. It was gathered that the state government did not only order the immediate eviction of the herders from the state but also provided trucks to evacuate them back to Kaduna State, from where they came.
The North/Central zonal Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Isma’ila Rebe, in a chat with Daily Trust frowned at the government action, saying the herders are harmless and that they were forced to relocate to the state after losing their grazing land in Rijana village of Kaduna State.
“They are from Rijana in Kaduna State. They had relocated to Biri in Niger State after their grazing land in Rijana was sold to members of the public. They are harmless herders”, he said.
Niger State governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, said the herders must be evicted considering the insecurity in the country, and advised that if the need for movement in such number arises they should always liaise with their association so that government would be adequately informed.
Aliyu who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on nomadic matters, Sadiq Abubakar, said contrary to rumours the herders were only 40 and are all members of one family. He added that the state government provided four trucks for the evacuation. Abubakar denied the presence of heavily armed security personnel during the evacuation, saying only five men each from the police and State Security Service were deployed for the exercise.
No comments:
Post a Comment