The Gombe State Expanded Security Council on Wednesday suspended two traditional leaders, a Village Head and a District Head over a farmer-herder crisis that led to deaths in Funakaye Local Government Area.
Our correspondent reports that Gombe farmers across several local government areas have suffered losses following herders’ invasion of farmlands with crops yet to be harvested.
Addressing journalists at the Gombe Arena shortly after the expanded security meeting held at the Government House, the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Barrister Zubair Umar, said the meeting was convened to find an amicable resolution to the crisis.
According to him, “The recent resurgence of the farmer-herder crisis in some parts of the state was brought before the Security Council, and after deliberations, it led to the suspension of two traditional rulers.
“The Council viewed the failure of the traditional rulers as a contributing factor to the incident that occurred in Funakaye LGA. To serve as a deterrent, the Council decided to impose sanctions on the concerned traditional rulers — a Village Head and a District Head — who should have acted proactively to prevent the crisis.”
He added that investigations were ongoing and that details would be made public upon conclusion.
Also speaking, the Mai Kaltungo, Engineer Saleh Mohammed, who is the Deputy Chairman of the Council of Emirs and Chiefs, said the suspension was temporary.
“We hope that by the end of the investigation, if they provide satisfactory explanations as to why they couldn’t prevent the crisis, they will be reinstated to their positions as Village and District Heads. This is not a dismissal; they have not lost their jobs,” he said.
Mohammed urged farmers and herders to live peacefully and tolerate one another, emphasizing that Gombe remains one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria.
“The traditional rulers live among their people; we understand them and know how best to sensitise them,” he added.
