Nasarawa State Traditional Rulers, Security Chiefs, Fulani Leaders Confer On Security Challenges
Traditional rulers in Nasarawa State have held a meeting with heads of security agencies in the State as well as leaders of Fulani communities in Nasarawa State.
The meeting which held at the Aliyu Akwe Doma Banquet hall also had in attendance the Governor of Nasarawa State, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, the Chief Judge of Nasarawa State, Honourable Justice Suleiman Dikko and the Commandant, Nigeria Army Special Forces Doma, Major General Gadzama Ali.
Speaking at the event, Governor Abdullahi Sule appreciated the Emir of Lafia and the rest of the traditional rulers in the State for coming up with the initiative to call for such a meeting.
Describing them as the true leaders of the community, the Governor said there can be no meaningful development in the community without the input of the traditional rulers.
He then called on the traditional rulers to actively work with the security agents to fish out criminal elements in their communities.
Governor Sule also used the opportunity to appreciate the traditional rulers for their cooperation with government in curtailing the spread of the coronavirus. He urged them not to relent as the fight was not yet over.
In his speech at the event, Emir of Lafia and Chairman Nasarawa State Traditional Council of Chiefs, Justice Sidi Bage said such a meeting became necessary because of the worrying trend of criminal activities in the State.
He said: “Both the herders and the farmers are suffering this. We are now in the rainy season and the farmer cannot go to farm because he is scared. The herder cannot also take his animals to graze also because of fear.
“We are here today because we want to tell ourselves the truth. We want to discuss openly and find solutions to these problems.
“We trust that our discussions will yield positive results. But in the unlikely event we are unable to resolve issues, we are ready to enforce laws that will ensure the safety of our people.”
The Emir then appreciated the Nasarawa State Governor for taking time out of his busy schedule to be physically present at the meeting.
On his part, Commandant Nigeria Army Special Forces Command, Major General Gadzama Ali said most of the criminals that have been arrested of recent or those being tracked by law enforcement for crimes such as kidnapping and robbery are of Fulani extraction.
He said having a meeting where these challenges will be discussed by community leaders is very important.
He however called on the leaders of the Fulani in the State to go back to their various communities and organize meetings so as to relay the message that no form of criminality will be condoned by the military.
Major General Ali also appealed to parents to pay close attention to their children and call them to order when they begin to show questionable characters or associate with suspicious individuals.
The meeting later went into a closed door session.
