By: Adelowo Oladipo, Minna
Residents of Baji community in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State has cried out over the continuous attack by the Fulani herders on the indigenous farmers following an alleged lukewarm attitudes of the State government to take prompt and decisive action against the trouble shooters despite official reports.
The Madakin Baji, Malam Usman Yusuf made stated this during an interview with journalists in Minna, adding that over 60 persons have been injured in the last five years in different fora that the herders started the attacks on the community
He noted that this has become imperative following the last Saturday on 19th September, 2026 attack that resulted in to fatal injury on three indigenous farmers to include: Yahaya Ibrahim, Rabiu Jibrin, and Bashar Mohammed respectively around 11am on the faithful day.
Narrating the recent incident, Usman Yusuf explained that one Nasiru Sani who trace his mother who has gone to farm to get firewood, upon sighting him on the farm, the Fulani attacked him which raised alarm for safety leading to the meyhem.
Madakin Baji then appealed to the governments at all levels, security agencies, stakeholders to urgently intervene because as peace loving people, law abiding community with numerous elites who have been piping them down on the need for peace, vowed that there is no monopoly of violence, adding that if nobody can protect their lives and properties especially their major means of livelihood then they have to protect themselves.
According to him, since July to date, farmers have been threatened by the Fulanis not to go to their farms or forced them out with physical assult and attacks after they embarked on night grazing and destruction of matured crops of farmlands for 92 households who led to the inspection and peace meeting chaired by Council Chairman of Gurara LGA.
During the said peace meeting which consisted of security agencies namely; the police, DSS, NSCDC, vigilante, council chairman, Meyitte Allah, SSG represented the State government, Fulanis and Baji community people which subsequently led to inspection of the farmlands to see the level of damages, illegal occupation of farm land by the Fulanis and need for peace and peaceful coexistence in the area.
The following were established after the team visited the scene as directed by the state government: night grazing, Fulanis occupying current farmlands illegally, community gave a place to them but resisted to relocate, 92 households farm products destroyed, continued attacks on the community farmers, Fulanis inviting others from neighboring local governments to invade the community, belamed the Fulanis settlers for their insensitivity, causing violence especially as instigated by one Shuaibu Isah Bodari.
After extensive discussions and deliberations, some resolutions reached were: that the Fulanis should within 24 hours vacate the current farmland to where the community allocated to them, there should be no further attack, eschew for peace and farmers should return to their farming activities, Fulanis should think on how to compensate the farmers for the wanton destruction.
However, the community farmers in their magnanimity and for peace to reign rejected to accept compensation by forgiven the Fulanis. Despite all the efforts, the Fulanis did not stop the attacks, and vehemently resisted to relocate to where community allocated to them saying that they have the Hon. commissioner of Nomadic and the governor as their own.
According to findings, the Secretary to the State Government SSG, Alhaji Usman Abubakar, who is from the Local Government has abandoned the community despite government directive for quick intervention to avoid escalation, he has remain silent over the matter despite after receiving reports of the findings and resolution at all inclusive community peace meeting chaired by the Council Chairman.
Earlier, the Baji community through their lawyer, Barrister H. A. Yabagi Esq on 27th July, 2026 in a letter to the governor of Niger state titled: “An appeal for urgent intervention of the Executive Governor of Niger State over persistent destruction of farmlands, threat to life, breach of peace, and unlawful occupation of farmlands by some Fulani herdsmen (led by one Shuaibu Isah Bodari and others) at Baji community, Gurara local government area of Niger State”.
The Yabagi & Co of Sulhu Chambers in the letter gave detailed analysis of all the happenings, processes and efforts made so far with dates to ensure peace, stability and peaceful coexistence but that did not yield positive results on the parts of the Fulanis. The appeal letter was copied to the office of the deputy governor, Speaker, SSG, Police commissioner, SSS director, NSCDC, commissioners of Homeland security, as well as Local Government, Emir of Suleja and Gurara council chairman respectively.
However, despite all these efforts by the law abiding Community of Baji, no tangible action has been taken to address the lingering dispute or curtail the Fulanis from perpetrating the chaos and mayhem in the affected Community and it’s neighbouring villages.
