Leaders Appeal for Calm, Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence Following Farmers-Herders Clash
The Executive Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Hon. Danjuma Samuel Shekwolo, has led a high-powered delegation to Kwaku community following a recent violent clash between farmers and Fulani herders that reportedly claimed the life of a Fulani man, left others injured and resulted in the destruction of properties.
The delegation included the FCT Mandate Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development, Comr. Abdullahi Suleiman Ango; FCT PDP State Chairman, Hon. Ismaila Dogara; and the Gomo of Kuje, His Royal Highness Alhaji Haruna Tanko Jibril.
During the visit, the leaders engaged representatives of the Gbari and Fulani communities, appealing to both sides to embrace dialogue, tolerance and mutual understanding as essential steps towards restoring peace and preventing further escalation.
Addressing residents, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Kwaku, Mr. Aminu Isah, warned against taking the law into their own hands, emphasising that anyone found culpable would face the full weight of the law. He urged residents to report grievances and security concerns to the appropriate authorities rather than resorting to violence.
The Chairman also visited Rugan Commander Smalli, a Fulani settlement in Gashe, Kwaku, where houses and farm produce were reportedly set ablaze during the crisis.
Expressing concern over the incident, Hon. Shekwolo strongly condemned the violence and appealed particularly to youths in the affected communities to exercise restraint and avoid actions capable of worsening the situation.
He urged farmers and herders to channel their grievances through security agencies and called on community leaders to cooperate with law enforcement officers in identifying those responsible for the violence, assuring both communities that justice would be pursued.
Similarly, the Gomo of Kuje appealed to farmers and herders to embrace tolerance, understanding and peaceful coexistence, stressing the importance of preserving the longstanding harmony among residents.
In their separate responses, representatives of the Gbari and Fulani communities appreciated the Chairman’s timely intervention and pledged their commitment to restoring lasting peace. They also called for those responsible for the violence to be brought to justice.
As part of the Area Council’s humanitarian intervention, Hon. Shekwolo presented relief materials to the Ardo of the Fulani community to support victims whose homes and properties, reportedly worth millions of naira, were destroyed during the unfortunate incident.
The Chairman also prayed for the peaceful repose of the deceased and the speedy recovery of those injured, assuring both communities of the Council’s continued engagement and commitment to addressing the underlying issues.
He emphasised the need for sustained dialogue, cooperation with security agencies and collective responsibility in preventing future occurrences and strengthening peaceful coexistence across Kwaku community.
