A dispute over farmland between people living in the boundary between Gombe and Borno states has led to bloody clashes and razing of properties leaving many traumatised.
Vegfru is a company that was producing tinned tomato and mango juice for over 20 years. It is located in the Gamadadi ward of Bayo Local Government of Borno State which shares boundary with Yamaltu/Deba LGA of Gombe State.
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The factory occupies an expanse of land on which it cultivates tomatoes for processing. However, when the company stopped production, it started leasing the farmland to people from both states for cultivation.
The area was a priced land for the people of Jauro Garga and Jauro Shehu, which are also known as Gamadadi ward before the company’s entrance into the area because of the benefits reaped from farming.
The root of the conflict is that last year, an organisation called Triming, started a water project in the area to improve irrigation. Since then, rumour spread that the government had collected the land from Vegfru company. This prompted people in Gamadadi ward to claim that the land now belonged to them and that other non-indigenes should move out of the area.
Recently, Biu Emirate Council attempted to resolve the crisis. Hence, there is an urgent need for the relevant authorities to intervene to nip the crisis in the bud.
I, therefore, appeal to the government, security and traditional leaders to take effective and immediate action over the matter that is likely to affect people’s lives.
Muhammad Yasir Garba, [email protected]>
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