By Awwal Umar Kontagora Niger State Governor, Farmer Mohammed Umaru Bago, has urged residents of the state to shun tribal bigotr...
Niger State Governor, Farmer Mohammed Umaru Bago, has urged residents of the state to shun tribal bigotry, describing it as a major threat to peaceful coexistence among the people.
The governor made the appeal during a sympathy visit to the palace of the Emir of Borgu, Muhammad Sani Haliru Dantoro Kitoro III, where he commiserated with representatives of the Fulani, Boko, Kambari and Barigawa communities affected by the recent communal clashes that claimed several lives.
Describing the violence in parts of the state as unfortunate and shameful, Governor Bago said that at a time when Niger State is grappling with security challenges, residents should focus on promoting peace and restoring normalcy rather than escalating tensions.
He appealed for calm and noted that, through the concerted efforts of the Federal Government and other security stakeholders, incidents of insecurity had reduced significantly.
The governor also commiserated with the Emir and the people of Borgu Kingdom over the loss of lives and directed the immediate constitution of a Peace and Reconciliation Committee to identify and address the root causes of the conflict.
Governor Bago further urged residents to allow peace to prevail, obey the law and respect one another's right to live peacefully.
In his remarks, the Emir of Borgu, Muhammad Sani Haliru Dantoro Kitoro III, appreciated the governor for his prompt intervention and sustained efforts toward tackling insecurity across the emirate. He acknowledged that significant progress had been made but stressed the need for more coordinated efforts to permanently restore peace in Borgu Kingdom.
The monarch also cautioned against the spread of fake news, warning that misinformation on social media often fuels confusion, panic and division among the people.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abdullahi Sabi Aliyu, and the member representing Agwara/Borgu Federal Constituency, Jafaru Mohammed, called on residents to live peacefully as one people and embrace tolerance, in line with the teachings of the holy books.
Similarly, the member representing Borgu Constituency in the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulrahman Gambo, and the Chairman of Borgu Local Government Council, Abdullahi Mohammed Nasir, commended Governor Bago's interventions and advocated regular dialogue among the affected communities as a sustainable means of ending the recurring communal clashes.
Representatives of the Fulani, Kambari and Boko communities expressed appreciation for the fatherly role played by the Emir of Borgu and the leadership demonstrated by Governor Bago. They also reaffirmed their commitment to embracing peace and fostering harmonious coexistence.
Recent communal clashes involving the Fulani, Kambari, Barigawa and Boko communities in Borgu Emirate have resulted in the loss of lives and destruction of property. The violence has largely been linked to a series of reprisal attacks among the affected communities.
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