Hyacinth Chinweuba
In a deliberate move towards finding lasting solution to the security challenges that bedevilled Zamfara for over a decade, the Commissioner of Police Zamfara State Command CP Usman Nagogo along with other service chiefs opened the new year with a peace building meeting held at the palace of Emir of Shinkafi.
According to SP Mohammed Shehu, Police Public Relations Officer of the state, the
meeting was a follow up to series of peace building engagement already started under the leadership of the Commissioner of police in an effort to sustain the relative peace in the state.
The interaction that was attended by the two warring parties as well as other stakeholders was to enable the participants to voice out their complaint/grievances for a harmonious resolution that will address issues of farmers/herders conflict, Banditry, Kidnapping, attacks and reprisal attack and other related crimes that can lead to unwarranted loss of life and property.
In his remarks, the Commissioner of Police, CP Usman Nagogo who presided over the meeting highlighted the successes achieved as a result of the peace process which include the return of peace and 90 per cent reduction of criminal activities that consumed the lives of innocent persons for years.
The CP called on all the warring parties in the Emirate to accept the ongoing peace process wholeheartedly and also should not allow themselves to be used by some unpatriotic politicians.
He encouraged them to continue to be law abiding and ensure they channel their complaint and other grievances through an appropriate authority for redress.
The CP assured the gathering that, sincerity, commitment and Justice are the guiding principles of the peace committee.
He commended the Emir for his continued support and cooperation to the peace initiative.
In his welcome address, the Emir of Shinkafi Alhaji Mohammed Makwashe Isah commended the Commissioner of Police and other service chiefs for their effort to restore lasting peace in Zamfara state.
He promised the CP of his Emirate’s continued collaboration and assistance to the ongoing effort of ensuring peace in the state.
During the meeting, all the warring parties were given equal opportunity to voice out their grievances.
To this end, farmers who spoke at the meeting narrated how Fulani herdsmen encroached their farm lands and destroyed farm product. The issue was extensively deliberated, and all the warring group have unanimously resolved to leave in peace with one another for social and economic growth of the area and the state in general.
The special adviser to the Governor on Peace and reconciliation, Alhaji Abdulrahman Bala shinkafi thanked the security agencies for their effort to ensure peace in Zamfara and called on the people of Shinkafi to cooperate with government and security agencies.
Those attended the meeting include the Brigade Commander, 1 Brigade Gusau, Brigadier General OM Bello, Director SS, Alhaji MT Wakili and Commandant Civil Defence among others.