By Sani Gazas Chinade, Damaturu
The National President of Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria, (KACRAN), Hon Khalil Muhammad Bello has called on the Chairman Land Allocation Committee of Potiskum Local Government Council who is also the Secretary of the Council for the interest of peace and stability in the said LG which is one of the most peaceful LGs in Nigeria to reverse the issue of allocating a cattle route in Mazagane Community to people as plots.
The President who officially went to the encroached cattle route with some top officials of the Association, Secretary of Potiskum LG Land Allocation Committee and Members of the Press, said Kulen Allah has rejected in totality, the move by some people who are not mindful with the urgly consequences of the very dangerous act that led to the cutting of a cattle route and allocating it to people as plots.
He expressed concern that such attitude may trigger misunderstanding between herders and people of the communities around, considering the fact that animals are not like humans, when their route is blocked, they may create another one which might be in the people’s farms.
According to him, for the sake of peace and sustainability of cordial relationship, the actors of the said rejected act should as a matter of urgency stop the demarcation of the cattle route or narrowing it by creating new plots which as stated earlier will jeopordize the peace in the area and its vicinity.
During the inspection of the encroached/narrowed cattle route, the National President and the Chairman Potiskum Local Government Land Allocation Committee also jointly visited a sand fetching field created by Mother Cat Construction Company on another cattle route where he called on the firm to quickly sand fill the area affected before the rain fall to prevent unnecessary clashes/conflicts between Cattle Rearers and Farmers who were said to have been living peacefully with one another.
He uses the medium to call on all Stakeholders to always widen consultations before embarking on issues that have to do with lands.
The National President also called on all the Local Government Chairmen across Nigeria and other concerned Authorities to avoid any illegal act of converting Grazing Reserves and Cattle Routes into farms, plots or any other means contrary to the meant of it’s provision especially now that the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has issued a Presidential order to the Minister of Justice Hon Abubakar Malami to reclaim all the existing encroached cattle routes and grazing reserves Nationwide.
In conclusion he commended the Executive Chairman of Potiskum Local government Hon Salisu Muttari who is known for doing everything humanly possible in mantaining peace and unity amongst his subjects as well as Fika Emirate Council for its total support towards reversing any act that may lead to the breakdown of peace and mutual coexistence in the area under reference.
