By Abel Leonard/lafia
The governor of Nasarawa State Engr. abdulahi Sule says traditional rulers are the custodian of our customs and tradition hence should expose criminal elements residing in their various areas.
He made the statement today during the traditional rulers’ meeting with heads of security agencies as well as leaders of Fulani communities in Nasarawa State.
Sule described the traditional rulers as the true leaders of the community, saying, there can be no meaningful development in the community without the input of the traditional rulers.
He then called on the traditional rulers to actively work with the security agents to fish out criminal elements in their communities.
Governor Sule also appreciate the traditional rulers for their cooperation with government in curtailing the spread of the coronavirus, urging them not to relent as the fight is not yet over.
Earlier in his submission, the Emir of Lafia and Chairman Nasarawa State Traditional Council of Chiefs, Justice Sidi Bage the 1st said, the meeting became imperative considering the worrying trend of criminal activities in the State especially farmers/herders clash.
In his word he said ‘Both the herders and the farmers are suffering this. We are now in the rainy season and the farmer cannot go to farm because he is scared. The herder cannot also take his animals to graze also because of fear’.
He however emphasised strongly that the meeting is to reveal to themselves the truth about the challenges of security in the state and openly discuss towards finding a lasting solutions.
‘We trust that our discussions will yield positive results. But in the unlikely event we are unable to resolve issues, we are ready to enforce every avenue to ensure there is peace in the state ” he said.
On his part, Commandant Nigeria Army Special Forces Command Doma, Major General Gadzama Ali said, most of the criminals that have been arrested of recent or those being tracked by law enforcement agents for crimes such as kidnapping and robbery are from the Fulani extraction adding that a meeting like this with community leaders is a welcome development.
He further called on the leaders of the Fulani in the State to go back to their various communities and organize meetings so as to transmit the outcome of the meeting adding that no form of criminality will be condoned by the military henceforth.
Major General Ali also appeal to parents to pay close attention to their children especially when there is a sign of questionable characters, bad influence from friends.
The meeting which held at the Aliyu Akwe Doma Banquet Hall Government House Lafia, also had in attendance the Chief Judge of Nasarawa State, Honourable Justice Suleiman Dikko.
