The Consular General of Burkina Faso in Ghana has advised native farmers and settlers Fulanis at Bagurugu in Karaga in the Northern region to forgive each other and continue to live together in peace and harmony.
Vivian Azure who is in the village to broker peace said people of diverse backgrounds can only live together in an environment of peace and respect urging the feuding parties to let peace reign.
She was speaking at a durbar in the community as part of reconciliatory steps following an attack on the Fulani settlement recently.
Hundreds of armed youth of the Bagurugu village raided the settlement and left it in flames and ashes after a dispute between one Fulani man and three Dagomba farmers.
Around 200 Fulanis remain displaced and others have lost their life savings after the angry villagers burned down houses and maimed livestock.
A Dagomba farmer is said to have accused a Fulani herder of allowing his cattle to destroy his rice farm and led his friends to attack the herder.
Since the attack, the Fulani community both regional and abroad have been visiting the northern regional village to console the victims and deliver relief items and also prevent further reprisals and nib violence in the bud.
Last Sunday, Tabiltal Pulaaku, an international organization of Fulanis in West Africa was the first to visit the victims and took the issue up with local state powers and traditional leaders, demanding justice for their grieving tribesmen.
The chief of Tamalgu, Naa Yakubu Abdallah apologised on behalf of the community and promised to restore peace and unity between the Fulani herders and the Dagomba natives.
As the part of the reconciliation process, the Karaga District Security Council supported by the chiefs held a peace durbar this week Friday at the Fulani community and the Burkinabes Consulate General was invited.
Adding her voice to the calls at the durbar, the Consulate General explained her mission to the village, saying she came to “give peace message”
Madam Azure condemned the violence and asked both sides to solve their problems and continue to live together.
“What I have been told is that Fulanis and Dagombas are living here for a long time. What happened is not good, but they have to try and solve that problem and continue to live together,” Madam Vivian explained.
She added that “I told DCE to work to find those people who are trying the manipulate the two sides to advise them because, it’s not a Fulani or Dagomba matter, but people manipulating both sides, so he should try and sensitize the youth.”
The Consulate General presented foodstuff to the victims and urged them to remain calm as the security and law enforcement agencies work to get justice served.
The durbar was attended by Fulani chiefs and several youth groups from different regions in the Northern part of the country.
Many high profile Fulani dignitaries graced the occasion, including the president of the National Council of chiefs, General Secretary of Tabital Pulaaku, Yakubu Musah Barry.
Alhaji Barry was delighted by the progress to restore peace between both sides but warned about an alleged growing rate of targeted injustices against the Fulani inhabitants in native villages in Ghana.
He said their investigation has found a growing security threat that needs to be addressed immediately.
According to him, some chiefs and law officers are using state powers to exploit and intimidate some Fulanis to spend their properties.
He also appealed to the media to stop promoting hatred and bad public opinion against the ethic tribe anytime a Fulani individual is involved in crimes.
The District Chief Executive for Karaga, Alhassan Yabdoo assured of maximum security for all Fulanis in the district.
Source: Myjoyonline
Comments