NEWS

ACG MUHAMMAD DADA SALEH CONVENES PEACE TALK INVOLVING HERDERS AND FARMERS 

As part of effort to see to the suatainance of peace, the Provost, College of Support Services and Armed Training, Udege-Mbeki, ACG Muhammad Dada Saleh convened a meeting involving Fulani herders and farmers in Udege Development Area, Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

The interactive meeting which took place at the College's Hall was attended by the representative of the Sole Administrator, Udege Development Area, Danjuma Osu Obagu, Sarkin Fada Udege Chiefdom, Alh. Aminu Obagu, Ardo Hassan Ibrahim, Village heads of Agbazo and  Eyenu, representatives of the Village heads of Udege-Mbeki, Owuna Isah Ede, representative of the Village head of Odu Allasoka Osu, NSCDC Commandant Ownua Hassan, Director Social Service, Udege Development Area, Tani Sani etc. 

Addressing the gathering, ACG Muhammad emphasized the need for peaceful coexistence, noting that it is only on that basis that development can be attained. He lamented the unbecoming conduct of some herders, which he attributed to illiteracy and poor upbringing, stating that he is proudly Fulani from both ends of the divide.

"As Fulani, and by implication a herder, I am disturbed by the development around Udege Development Area where my people have become drunkards and drugs addicts, consequently taking into crime" - he noted. He therefore, seized the moment to call on the Ardo and other leaders to enroll their children and wards in schools so they acquire education and be in their best conduct, emphasizing the altitude anyone can attain upon acquiring knowledge, citing himself as example. 

Obagu who represented the Sole Administrator Udege Development Area, Navy Commodore Yahaya Ownua (Rtd) reflected on the past where farmers and herders lived in peace, adding that government is unrelenting in its desire to enforce security. 

The Ardo who appreciated their son for convening the meeting reiterated his commitment to peace building while expressing concern over poisoning of grass on which their cattle graze by the farmers. While farmers on the other hand expressed concern over destruction on their farmlands.

The meeting is timely considering recent unrest in and around the Development Area, particularly in Mararaban-Udege which partially affected Udege-Mbeki. Equally of note is the need to avert potential conflict between farmers and herders, moreso that rain has begun to fall. Only today, a case was reported around Eyenu where herders trespassed into a mango plantation. It took the intervention of the NSCDC to arrest the situation.

Commending the role of the Command in curtailing conflicts and losses of lives and property, the communities requested for additional staff of the Institution and commencement of training.