Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed has inaugurated a 15-Member reconciliation and investigation committee headed by the FCT Police Commissioner, Mr. Aderenle Shinaba to look into the remote and immediate causes of the clash between Gwari and Fulani people in Gwagwalada area council two days ago. The committee has one week to submit its report.
This is just as the minister warned that anyone found wanting in the events that led to the crisis would be punished to serve as a deterrent to others.
Two people were killed and seven others wounded in the clash between the cattle rearers and farmers in Gwako Village.
Mohammed stated this yesterday during an emergency meeting of all stakeholders, including representatives of the Gwaris and Fulanis, held at the secretariat of the Gwagwalada Area Council in Gwagwalada.
?“Anybody found to be culpable or have participated in the perpetuation of this heinous crime, whatever his or her position in society will face the full wrath of the law,” he said.
The minister urged people of both ethnicities to continue to live in peace and harmony and desist from taking the law into their hands.
He pleaded for calm in the community, and promised that FCT administration would continue to provide food and shelter to those affected, who are presently camped at the permanent site of the University of Abuja.
Mohammed attributed the delay to the opening of the FCT Grazing Reserve to inadequate funds for compensation of original settlers who would be displaced with the plan but said, “With what is on ground, we cannot wait any longer to put the grazing reserve into use because the Gwako Village crisis is a wakeup call. If we have grazing reserves, Fulanis would not take refuge in the University of Abuja Campus,’’ he said
Earlier in his welcome address, the chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council, Alhaji Zakari Angulu-Dobi commended the minister for his prompt intervention in the crisis adding that the council has been able to gather all stakeholders from Fulani and Gwari communities to be part of the meeting so that such crisis would not be experienced again.
Also speaking in an interview, the FCT Secretary, Miyeti Allah Cattle Rearers Association, Aliyu Sali who also commended the minister for his prompt response assured that his people would remain calm as the await the outcome of the report, saying those found culpable must not go scot free.
Meanwhile, the minister who visited the displaced victims of the clash at their camp on Sunday announced that relief materials including food, water, mattresses and blankets had already been sent to them and they would continue to be looked after by FCT Administration and NEMA.
He said all measures had been put in place to ensure the security and protection of lives and property, while assuring that such incidents would not be allowed to happen again.
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