Zamfara State Police Commissioner, Usman Nagogo has given two-week ultimatum to Miyetti Allah to end banditry activities or face the wrath of the law.
Mr. Nagogo gave the order while addressing leaders of Miyetti Allah during a reconciliation meeting held at J.B Yakubu secretariat Gusau on Monday, saying Zamfara has had enough of banditry activities, calling on the Fulani bandits to embrace peace and surrender their weapons.
He called on Fulani leaders to call their people to order and stop all forms of banditry and other criminal activities.
The commissioner blamed the Fulani leaders for all atrocities being committed by the bandits, noting that they have not taken enough measures to call their people to order despite the reconciliation accord signed by both the Fulani and farmers in the state.
Nagogo pointed out that the volunteer groups have since surrendered more than 9000 weapons in a bid to embrace peace, lamenting that, the Fulani cattle rearers were yet to do so.
In his response, the Sarkin Fulani Zamfara, (leader of the Fulani), Alhaji Ahmed Mutawalle said, “Fulani are peace loving people” but are subjected to all forms of intimidation and harassment by farmers, who have continued to encroach and cultivate grazing lands and cattle routes meant for cattlemen.
The refusal of the farmers to vacate grazing lands is one of the factors that contributed to the current insecurity problems.
According to him, this was how the farmers-Fulani clash which led to reprisal attacks began and then metamorphosed into armed banditry.
If the state government forced farmers to move out of grazing lands and allow herders to move freely with their cattle in the grazing areas, this would go a long way in solving the problem, he added.
The Sarkin Fulani also announced the dissolution of leaders of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, saying the association’s activities until further notice.
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