Over 200 Fulani herdsmen from Kaduna state have been evicted from Niger state under tight security back to their state.
The event took place at the weekend at Gunu village in Shiroro local government area of the state
It was gathered that the nomadic herdsmen had arrived Biri forest a week ago from Rijana in Kaduna state, in search of green pasture for their animals, but were advised to leave.
A set of the herdsmen who went in search of a more conducive place later settled down for Gunu village in Shiroro local government of Niger state.
But the large number of the herdsmen, their family members and cattle sent jitters to Gunu community and raised concern.
The elders of Gunu later reported the matter to the local government authority, police and the Department of State Security (DSS).
In an attempt to prevent the scenario in Benue and Taraba states and based on security advise, it was gathered that Niger state government ordered the immediate eviction of the herdsmen from the state. It also provided trucks to evacuat them back to Kaduna state.
But the North Central zonal chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Alhaji Isma’ila Rebe faulted government action, describing it as “a harsh directive on harmless herdsmen who were forced to relocate to the state after losing their grazing land in Rijana village of Kaduna state”.
Recounting how they migrated to Gunu, Rebe said, “They are from Rijana in Kaduna state. They had relocated to Biri in Niger state after their grazing land in Rijana was sold to members of the public. They are harmless herdsmen.”
One of the DSS officers that superintendent the eviction said that the state governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, approved the action.
But the Special Adviser on Nomadic matters to the state governor, Malam Sadiq Abubakar, who also witnessed the eviction exercise, said that it was only 40 herdsmen who are all members of same family and not 200 were evicted.
He confirmed that the state government provided four trucks for the evacuation of the herdsmen and that the exercise was peacefully carried out.
