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Taraba State Governor, Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku has expressed dismay over the Lau crisis between the Fulanis and Mumuye tribes.
The Governor stated this during a stakeholders meeting which took place in his office in Government House Jalingo involving the two tribes that are at daggers drawn over a mere issue that would have been resolved amicably.
Governor Darius Ishaku who was visibly angry over the matter, said he has ceaselessly called for peace right from the day he was inaugurated as the Governor and wondered why people are not ready to listen to his appeal for calm.
He lamented that the money that would have been channelled to other viable ventures that would fast track development will now be used to quail the crisis and said that it does not urgar well for the state.
Governor Ishaku stressed that if maturity was deployed it wouldn’t have escalated to colossal loss of lives and property among the people of the two tribes and attributed it to the handiwork of the devil and reiterated his resolve to ensure that peace is accorded priority in the State.
The Governor further challenged the two tribes to disregard any form of rumour that may further fuel the crisis, calling on them to report people that are bent on instigating the crisis to relevant security Agencies.
Darius Ishaku stressed that, people who have lived together for ages should not allow trivial issues to tear them apart or degenerate to a point of maiming and killing one another.
Governor Ishaku said government is making frantic effort aimed at settling the internal squabbles with a view to averting future occurrence and tasks the stakeholders holders to as a matter of urgency end the fracas.
He lamented that last year it was a fight between Shomo and jole over a fish pond and now is between the Fulani and Mumuye over the destruction of harvested farm produce all in Lau Local Government Area and said this must stop.
Speaking during the peace meeting, the Leader of the Mumuye tribe in Lau Local Government, Solomon Yazeng, used the opportunity to sue for peace between all the tribes in the area.
Solomon Yazend said over the years, the Mumuye people have co existed peacefully with other tribes and described the recent attack by the Fulani herdsmen as unfortunate.
The leader remarked that Farmers and graziers must understand themselves and respect each other for the sake of unity and development.
Solomon Yazeng however challenged security operatives in the to be responsive to their responsibilities by tracking those that are behind the killings and burning of houses.
He stressed that the statutory functions of security operatives, particularly the police is to protect lives and property of the people which is Paramount and must be adhered to strictly.
Solomon Yazend further told the Governor that he has made frantic efforts with the Chief of Lau to broker peace among the Mumuye and Fulani with a view to nipping the crisis in the bud.
The leader assured the Governor that, the Mumuye people will support all peace initiatives that would be established for the sake of development.
He thanked Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku for his prompt response to stop the crisis from further escalation and pleaded with the Mumuye community to accept the peace efforts of the State Governor.
While Professor Aliyu Bakari of the Taraba State University who spoke on behalf of the Fulani Community, said ignorance played a major role on the recent crises between the Mumuye and Fulani herdsmen.
He said the misunderstanding between the Mumuye farmer and Fulani herdsmen is not new in the North and called for calm.
The professor also blamed some mischief makers for fuelling the crisis and advised such people to stop for the sake of peace and harmony in the area.
Aliyu task the people to respect constituted authority by not taking the laws into their hands.
He advised the people to always consult stakeholders and political appointees of the area for direction on any issue than to resort to violence which distort peace that the people of the area are known for.
The Educationists further supported plans by the stakeholders to visit their people to conscientise them on the need to embrace peace and tolerance.
