Taraba monarch raises alarm over rate of kidnapping

The chief of MutumBiyu in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State, Justice (Retired) Sani Suleiman, has raised the alarm over the increasing rate of kidnapping and destruction of 300 farms by suspected herdsmen in his domain.

The monarch, while addressing Fulani leaders including Hardos, Jauros and District heads in his palace in MutumBiyu, Saturday, said the kidnapping cases and destruction of crops were all traced to Fulani herdsmen.

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According to him, Hardos and Jauros had always denied the involvement of their people in these acts but the Jauro Manu failed kidnapping attempt during which one of the suspected kidnappers was killed in the act has exposed the herdsmen of their criminal activities.

“The suspected kidnapper killed when he and other suspects attacked a house of a large scale farmer at Jauro Manu village was identified as a herdsman, Haro Ibrahim, residing in a settlement not far away from the village they attacked had exposed those behind the kidnapping in the area,” he said.

The Monarch further disclosed that Haro and his father Ibrahim are well known by the members of the community that was attacked, saying Haro and his father are all Fulani herdsmen.

He warned the Hardos that kidnapping and destruction of crops by herdsmen was unacceptable and compensation must be paid to owners of the farms.

He said it was an act of wickedness by the herdsmen to engaged in kidnapping and destruction of farms and other criminals activities against peace loving people of his domain.

Justice Sani lamented that the herdsmen were practising farming too, but would never destroy their farms, adding that they instead destroyed farms belonging to non-Fulani.

“You have farms and some of you even harvest up to 300 bags of Maize and nobody among the farming community go near your farm. Why are you destroying other people’s farms?” the Monarch queried the Hardos.

He said information he received from his subjects revealed that the herdsmen move their animals far away from their farms but allow their cows to enter other people’s farms to destroy crops.

He warned that he would dethrone any Hardo if kidnapping and destruction of the farm are recorded in the area he controls.

“You must talk to your people especially the youth among you to stop all forms of criminal activities and failure will force us to take necessary action within the provision of law to free ourselves from your acts of wickedness,” he added.

Hardo Musa, who responded on behalf of other Hardos, said criminal activities and destruction of farm land by some of their people have been a source of concern to the majority of the Fulani herdsmen.

He lamented that few bad eggs among them have damaged the image of Fulani herdsmen and assured that they would do their best to expose criminal elements among them for peace and mutual understanding with their host communities to be sustained.