Grazing route: Fresh crisis averted in FCT community

Another potential clash between herders and some church members over a blocked route has been averted in the Paso community of the Gwagwalada Area Council in the FCT. Abuja Metro learned that a disagreement arose between herders and church members on Sunday after a route to a pond, where cows drink water, was allegedly barricaded […]

Another potential clash between herders and some church members over a blocked route has been averted in the Paso community of the Gwagwalada Area Council in the FCT.

Abuja Metro learned that a disagreement arose between herders and church members on Sunday after a route to a pond, where cows drink water, was allegedly barricaded by members of the church.

A Paso resident, Danjuma Yakubu, who is an aide to the village chief, spoke to our reporter about the incident on Wednesday.

He said the dispute began after herders, leading their cows to drink water at the pond, discovered that the route had been barricaded.

He said the route is used by both passersby and cattle herders to reach their homes and farms.

He added that the herders, upon discovering the barricade, attempted to remove it.

He said as the herders were trying to remove the barricade to allow the cows access to the pond, some members of the church rushed to the scene and stopped them.

“So, in that process, the village chief was called. He immediately directed me to visit the scene and ordered both the herders and church members to the chief’s palace, where the matter was settled,” he said.

Yakubu said security operatives from Gwagwalada were informed and later visited the scene.

He noted that the village chief had directed that the barricade be removed.

The spokesperson for the FCT chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Ahmed Dahiru, also confirmed the incident.

He said the disagreement ensued after some members of the church barricaded a route that residents, other passersby, and herders use.

“Although the village chief of Paso had already directed that the barricade be removed by today, being Wednesday, or unfailingly Thursday. At least, doing so will avert any crisis that may arise between herders and members of that church,” he said.

A police source at the Gwagwalada divisional headquarters, who preferred anonymity, also confirmed the incident, stating that the police had visited the scene to ascertain the true position of the matter.

He added that the village chief had directed that the barricade be removed in the interest of peace in the area.