DOKO PROGRESSIVE FORUM APPEAL TO NGSG TO END ROYAL TUSSLE AND COMMUNAL CLASHES IN DOKO COMMUNITIES
BY UTHMAN BABA- SIRAJDEEN
The Niger state government have been called upon to as a matter of urgency intervene in the royal tussle and continued communal clashes in Doko communities of Lavun Local Government of the state
The appeal was made on Saturday by the Doko Progressive Forum ( PDF), urging the Niger State goverment, and specifically the governor of Niger State Rt Hon. Mohammed Umar Bago, to resolved the prolonged crisis inorder for peace to reign in the Communities
In a Press release signed by the president of the Forum Col. Jiya Mahmud Liman Rtd noted that the two notable factions have started to drum for another round of criss in the community.
According to the President, the two factions should shield their swords and allow room for dialogue by the state government stressing that there is need to invite the dethroned and the incumbent Etsu Dazhi and other critical stakeholders for possible resolution of the matter.
The prolonged royal tussle as well as the land dispute which has been in contention for over a long period of time has brought disagreement which is affecting Peaceful coexistence among the people.
He also called on the state government to call all parties involved in the conflict to a round table so as to to maintan peace in the community adding that the Niger State Judiciary should also ensure speedy delivery of the impending Judgement in all matters in the courts related to the crisis.
Col. Mahmud Liman rtd advised that all relevant security agencies should live up to their responsibilities by ensuring that those in possession of arms and amunitions are brought to book saying the security agencies and other concern law enforcement bodies should desmostrate highl level of professionalism and total neutrality in handling the dispute.
He noted that the people living around the communities have been subjected to untold hardship and as a result majority of the farmers could not go to their farms this farming season due to the crisis and then appealed to the state government to provide palliatives for about two thousand (2000), households to avoid the impending hunger in the community.
According to him “Henceforth any individual or group found wanting or instigating crisis or causing any act capable of distrupting public peace in Doko and its environs should be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law regardless of the status or affiliation”.
“Doko, crisis has defied several means of reconciliation that the Etsu Nupe Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, had Severally waded in for recocilatory efforts with no possible result, the former chairman Lavun Local govermnat Hon. Ibrahim Limanko- Pat’s and other critical stakeholders have also made efforts to reconcile the factions without any positive result”.
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” Also, Doko Progressive Forum (PDF), with other leaders of associations in Doko organized several meetings involving the two factions with the view of resolving the crisis yet to no avail. It is against this background we are now appealing to the goverment and governor of Niger State to as a matter of urgency see how to resolve the Doko Community crisis for lasting peace in the community” he requested
It would be recalled that Doko has witnessed series of disputes ranging from land and royal tussles in the last twelve years without means of resolving the dispute.
The crisis became apparent when farmland disputes involving the dethroned Community leader the Etsu Dazhi and the then newly appointed, late Alhaji Bldr. Muhammadu Santali Dazhi roar its head
This medium can report authoritatively that the farmland crisis extended to Boku and Emigba Communities on the 30th of June and 2nd July 2021 respectively which led to loss of lives and destruction of valuable properties
