By Mohammed Nasir Shuaibu (Bauchi State Correspondent)
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has appealed to farming and herding communities in Bauchi State to embrace dialogue and peaceful coexistence, describing both groups as critical to the state's economy and food security.
The governor made the appeal during the inauguration of a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the recent farmers-herders crisis in Lanzai and Dosho communities of Darazo Local Government Area.
Represented by Deputy Governor Mohammed Auwal Jatau, Mohammed warned against attempts to ethnicise disputes between farmers and herders, saying violence only deepens poverty and underdevelopment.
"Both our farming and herding communities are integral to our economy, food security and shared heritage.
Violence has never solved any dispute; it only breeds a cycle of grief and underdevelopment," he said.
The governor disclosed that the government had already provided relief materials, including food items, mats and blankets, to victims of the crisis, while arrangements had been made for the distribution of building materials such as cement and roofing sheets to affected households.
He urged traditional rulers, youth leaders, community elders, farmers and herders to cooperate fully with the commission and provide credible information that would aid its assignment.
Mohammed expressed confidence in the ability of the commission, headed by retired Grand Khadi Abdullahi Yakubu Marafa, to deliver a comprehensive report that would not only address the Lanzai-Dosho conflict but also serve as a framework for preventing similar crises across the state.
He reiterated the government's commitment to protecting the rights and livelihoods of all citizens and ensuring lasting peace in affected communities. NNL.