By Nimake Earland
Scores of people were early Wednesday killed in a communal clash between the Gungura community in the Ganjuwa Local Government Area of Bauchi State and the Buri-Buri community of the Dukku Local Government of Gombe State.
The clash led to the destruction of properties worth millions of Naira, including many houses and farmlands.
The member representing Ganjuwa East Constituency in the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Honourable Gazali Abubakar Wunti, disclosed on the floor of the Assembly on Wednesday under matters of urgent public importance.
The lawmaker informed that people from Buri Buri village in Gombe State invaded Bara village in Gungura ward in Ganjuwa LGA to perpetrate the attack at about 3:00 am, on Wednesday.
Wunti informed that there had been border disputes between the two communities in which properties were previously destroyed, lamenting that the latest attack led to the loss of lives.
“So many committees were formed in the past to resolve the border disputes but all efforts ended in futility. They have been attacking the people of the area and destroying their properties and now it even included loss of innocent lives,” the lawmaker lamented.
He added despite the incessant attacks and destruction of their properties, his constituents have remained patient for many years
“The attackers destroyed the people’s farms and properties worth millions of naira. The communities now resort to engaging volunteers and vigilantes to guard their farms,” he said.
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While urged the House to send a committee to sympathize with the community, Wunti asked the state government to take urgent action on the matter.
In his contribution to the attack, Abdulkadir Umar Dewu, representing Kirfi Constituency, declared that the issue was worrisome, submitting that urgent intervention should be made by concerned authorities before it the matter totally got out of hand.
He then suggested that a joint committee on special duties and security should be tasked to go and sympathize with people of the area.
On his part, the member representing Chiroma Constituency, Bakoji Aliyu Bobbo, submitted that instead of sending a committee to the area, the House should urgently write the executive arm of government to mandate the state’s boundaries committee, under the chairmanship of the state deputy governor, to take quickly up the matter with its Gombe State counterpart.
