An 11-man probe committee was hurriedly inaugurated on Monday by FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, to uncover the remote and immediate causes of communal clash between the Gwari and Fulanis in Gwako village, Gwagwalada Area Council, where the Fulanis are threning reprisal attacks.
Authorities have confirmed at least two persons dead and more than seven others hospitalised after the Gwaris razed down several Fulani communities in the district over allegations that their crops were destroyed by the Fulanis’ cows.
Thousands of Fulanis in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja have taken refuge at the University of Abuja Main campus where officials of Nigeria Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the FCDA are helping to set up tents and provide relief matters.
Addressing leaders of both the Gwaris and Falani communities at joint security meeting on Monday, Senator Bala Mohammed observed that the territory had never witnessed a clash this severe.
He sued for peaceful coexistence among FCT communities to prevent crisis that could result to loss of lives and properties, saying the committee set up to probe the incident must establish the causes of the clash that has splotched the standing history of peaceful coexistence between communities in the territory.
“The committee must find out why it broke down two days ago and ensure that the unfortunate incident does not repeat itself in future,” he said.
“Government will deal with the perpetrators and aggressors so my appeal for peace should not be construed to mean weakness on the part of the federal government.”
The clash, which occurred on 29th December left two people dead, seven injured and 27 Fulani communities razed down.
The minister assured that the prompt response of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for restoration of peace is part of the larger Federal Government commitment to ensuring peace at all level.
He called on the traditional rulers to caution their subjects against reprisal attacks, adding that the FCTA would not entertain any act that would undermine its efforts in ensuring peaceful coexistence in the community.
The 11-man committee chaired by FCT Commissioner of Police has seven days to investigate the remote cause of the clash, proffer recommendations to forestall future occurrences and send persons indicted to appropriate authorities for prosecution.
He attributed the delay in opening up FCT grazing reserves to inadequate funds for compensation of original settlers of communities to be displaced in the plan.
“With what is on ground, we cannot wait any longer to put the grazing reserves into use because this clash in Gwako village is a wakeup call.
“If we have grazing reserves, the Fulanis will not be taking refuge in the University of Abuja community, so certainly this is what we need to do quickly to remove it within the ambiance of all the problems and challenges of compensations in terms of cost.”
Chairman of Miyetti, Allah FCT Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu responded, saying they welcome the prompt intervention of the government in bringing the crisis under control but will wait to see if those involved in the killing will be prosecuted.
Representative of Gwari Communities, Alkali Ibrahim also commended the intervention and regretted the incident, saying it has dented relations dating back to 40 years.
