Following the communal clash that occurred on Saturday, December 29, 2012 at Gwako, Gwagwalada Area Council between Fulani cattle rearers and Gbagyi farmers, two groups – the Original Inhabitants Development Association of Abuja (OIDA) and the Alliance for Credible Election (ACE) – have “warned religious and tribal zealots to stay away from making Federal Capital Territory another centre of ethno-religious crisis.”
The violence killed two persons and injured 4. Also, 27 communities was in the clash. According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), 1500 persons were displaced by the mayhem.
In a statement on Monday, the groups commended the Federal Government for its timely intervention, while calling for a thorough investigation.
Below is the full text of the release.
OIDA/ACE RESPONSE TO FULANI/GBAGYI CRISIS AT GWAKO, GWAGWALADA, FCT
The Original Inhabitants Development Association of Abuja (OIDA) and the Alliance for Credible Election (ACE) wishes to commend the authorities of the Federal Capital Territory Administration and security agencies in the FCT for their swift response to the communal clash that occurred on Saturday, December 29, 2012 at Gwako, Gwagwalada Area Council between Fulani cattle rearers and Gbagyi farmers.
Two (2) persons have been confirmed dead, 4 injured and 27 communities torched in the clash.The inauguration of an eleven-man investigation panel headed by the FCT Commissioner of Police, Adenrele Shinaba to look into the remote causes of the clash between both parties is a welcome development.
It is our hope that the committee will do a thorough job in its assignment by genuinely recommending what should be done to solve the perennial problem of Fulani cattle rearers and farmers clashes in FCT.
While we await the one-week deadline given to the Investigation Committee, we urge the Committee to be transparent and fair to all parties involved in the crisis by holding sessions openly and receiving input from all interested parties.
Also, the statement by the FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed that the government will set up a new grazing reserve for Fulani cattle rearers in the FCT is a good development if handled well. We urge the government to ensure that the location of the grazing reserve are well located in FCT.
We also warn that political office holders and government officials should not use this opportunity to carve out lands for themselves in the name of having grazing reserve. This will be vehemently resisted by OIDA and ACE.
Also, the issue of compensation, resettlement and integration of original inhabitants in FCT should not be crisis-driven. It should be done in a comprehensive manner. The government should not wait until another crisis breaks out in the Territory before this fundamental question is resolved.
While we eagerly await the recommendations of the Investigation committee, we hereby appeal to both communities to remain calm and peaceful while government finds lasting solution. We also use this medium to warn religious and tribal zealots to stay away from making FCT another centre of ethno-religious crisis.
Signed: Signed:
Pst. Danladi Jeji, Mr. Emma Ezeazu
President, OIDA Secretary General, ACE
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