The Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has urged the federal government to use the current border closure to stop the movement weapons-bearing herdsmen from neighboring countries to Nigeria.
He said the current border closure and the Coronavirus pandemic could be utilised to stop trafficking of weapons into the country which is fuelling conflicts in the nation.
Ganduje made the appeal yesterday at the official commissioning of the Ruga housing settlement built at Dansoshiya village in Kiru Local Government Area of the state.
“Let me appeal to the federal government to utilize this border closure even beyond the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure that herdsmen that are carrying dangerous weapons, crossing into this country are prevented.
“The government should review the ECOWAS protocol and stop those weapons-carrying Fulani from crossing into the country so that the incessant farmer/herder conflicts will be resolved,” he said.
On the Ruga settlement, Ganduje said 200 housing units were planned at the Dansoshiya forest, with similar projects taking place at Falgore forest and other places across the state.
He said studies had shown that the incessant farmer/herder conflicts were caused by a number of factors which included competition for land as a result of population explosion, Fulani movements with their cattle in search of grazing land as well as the migration of foreign Fulani herdsmen.
“We realized the need to settle herders in one place and provide all their basic needs so as to prevent the conflict. Another reason is to stop cattle rustling, modernize cattle rearing and milk production so as to improve the living standard of Fulani herdsmen,” he added.
He said about 4300 hectares of land were carved out for the settlement with provision for school, hospital, artificial insemination facility and a police post. He urged Fulani who want to settle in one place to come to Kano from all over the country.
