Fued between the Fulani and indigenous Gbagy community in Paiko clash towards the end of the flag-off of the federal government’s national pasture planting programme in Paiko Kore, Gwagwalada Area Council in Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Indeginous Gbagi community in the area stormed the venue Tuesday taking on the Fulanis whom they believed were being favoured by the government.
The youths who came brandishing sticks and cutlasses, were asking why the government should focus on planting grass which is for cows instead of food crops.
The presence of the youths caused chaos, leaving the guests, ministry officials and journalists running for their life. As at the time of filing this report, the number of people injured in the fracas could not be ascertained.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Muhammad Mahmood Abubakar, had during the flag-off, declared June 28 every year as National Pasture Planting Day to encourage private and public sector investments in commercial pasture production.
He said the programme was one of the continuous efforts in promoting intentional pasture development in Nigeria.
According to him, “I have endorsed the proposal that this flag-off day, 28th June, becomes an annual National Pasture Planting Day. I am glad that this Flag-off ceremony is holding at a time when Nigeria is having a renewed focus on the livestock sector, especially in pasture development as it plays an important role in providing an economic source of ruminant livestock feed, and improves productivity for food and human security.”
