|
Establish committee of Kokombas and
Fulani to resolve differences
Nkwanta, March 15, GNA - The Nkwanta District Security
Council (DISEC) on Wednesday directed the establishment of a
joint Committee of Kokombas and Fulanis in the District to
help to resolve differences between them.
The 10-member Committee to be chaired by Mr Jackson Jakayi,
Presiding Member of the Nkwanta District Assembly, comprises
Chiefs, opinion leaders and youth leaders from the two
groups.
The Council also recommended the identification and
registration of Fulani herdsmen and their leaders in the
District for easy identification as part of efforts to
pre-empt any clashes between them and the local people.
Kokombas and Fulanis in the District were involved in bloody
clashes recently over alleged destruction of Kokomba farms
by cattle belonging to Fulanis.
The tense situation almost drew the Police into the fray in
their efforts to investigate the matter and to restore
peace.
Mr Joseph Booker Denteh, Nkwanta, District Chief Executive,
told a stakeholders meeting on the impasse, that about 1,240
herds of cattle belonging to the Fulanis were believed to
have been shot and killed or been displaced by Kokombas.
He said the Kokombas were enraged by the alleged destruction
of their farms by cattle belonging to the Fulanis, who
allegedly refused to compensate the aggrieved Kokombas.
He urged the aggrieved parties to embrace peace building
initiatives.
Mr Sekyere Bruku, District Police Commander, said there was
need for the Nkwanta Circuit Court to expedite action on
claims for compensation brought against the Fulanis
regarding the destruction of farms by their cattle.
Some of those who were at that meeting blamed chiefs in the
area for giving a free hand to the Fulanis to operate in the
District and to disregard the laws of the country after
allegedly collecting "royalties" from them.
They maintained that the attacks on Fulanis and their cattle
was out of frustration at the Fulanis refusal to pay
compensation for the farms destroyed by their cattle.
Mr Musah Ali and Mr Wagus Nawa, Fulani and Kokomba Youth
Leaders respectively, entreated their people to stop
hostilities and co-exist peacefully.
GNA
|
