The Munga Dosso community in Karim Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State, which lost over 50 persons to Fulani headers attack, has appealed to the state government to ensure strict enforcement of anti-open grazing law to address herders and farmers’ conflict in the state.
The youth leader of the community, Robert Bukar, made the appeal on Monday while briefing newsmen in Jalingo said this go a long way to address incessant headers and farmers’ conflict.
It would be recalled that the Munga Dosso community has come under an attack carried out by suspected Fulani herders resulting in killing scores in the area.
Bukar noted that the bill was signed into law by the former Governor Darius Ishaku in 2018.
He said that the enforcement of the law would address the lingering farmers/herders’ conflict in the state.
He also decried the absence of government’s representatives to the crisis affected community as the surviving victims are left to leak their wounds without government assistance.
He also said that the community was left to its faith at the time when members of the community were killed by the herders and were given mass burial.
“Notably, no government representatives from federal, state, or local levels visited the community after this incident.
“We have a senator, a house of representatives member, a state assembly member, yet none deemed necessary to visit us and to listen to our lamentations.
“As a peace-loving community we always report all incidents and seek assistance from security agencies, which our Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, promptly provided.
“However, we were disappointed by the lack of government representation at the mass burial, where officials failed to commiserate with our people.
“It is true that the state government sent relief materials to the victims but relief materials are not our problem. We expected their solidarity at this time we need them most.
“Each of these tragedies represents not just individual losses but also the deepening rifts fueled by distrust and desperation.
“The aftermath of such violence has tragically resulted in not only fatalities but also a significant number of injuries and displacements.
“It has led to a humanitarian crisis that requires urgent attention. Families are left to mourn their loved ones, while survivors grapple with trauma and insecurity.
“Access to essential resources has become increasingly challenging, complicating efforts for community stability,” Bukar cried out.
Bukar also decried the injustice the community had suffered from security operatives.
He explained that their people were often arrested and were sent to prison for any crime they committed but Fulani criminals were being released from security custody without delay.
“Moreover, in all these, our people are often arrested and taken from police stations to prison but none of the perpetrators are brought to justice.
“It is only in the recent crisis that the Fulani were arrested with assault rifles by the divisional police headquarters in Karim Lamido but were released the next day to go and continue their normal routine attack,” Bukar said.
The youth leader also appealed to the government to increase security deployment to allow farmers to safely return to their farms.
He also requested Kefas to ensure the recently constituted administrative committee of enquiry to carry out a thorough investigation to apprehend and punish the perpetrators of the recent attacks.