Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State on Friday suspended First Class Emir of Misau, Mr Ahmed Suleiman, and two other traditional rulers over a land crisis between farmers and Fulani herders in the area.

Those suspended along with the emir are District Head of Chiroma, Mr Yusuf Atiku, and Village Head of Zadawa, Mr Bappa Ahmed.

Nine lives were lost and many persons injured in Zadawa Village of Misau Local Government area on Monday as a result of the clash in the area on Monday.

The governor announced suspension of the emir and the two other traditional rulers at Government House during the inauguration of a 13-man investigation panel tasked with responsibility of identifying the cause of the clash.

Mohammed said the suspension was to allow the panel to effectively carry out its assignment without interference.

“Following receipt of additional petitions that we have at our disposal from some communities, we have decided to suspend the relevant traditional institutions in the area so that they will not interfere with the work of the investigation committee.

“This officers or traditional rulers are hereby suspended and they will remain in Misau; they are not allowed to go anywhere and they are to subject themselves to the Administrative Inquiry Committee pending the time it is over,” Mohammad said.

The governor stressed that the committee would investigate the cause of the incidents in Misau.

He also directed the committee to look for other communities in the area where such an incident was likely to occur due to injustice and abuse of Land-Use Act, especially lands that were confiscated from Fulani people without due regard to the law.

“I am indeed convinced with the calibre of this committee, especially its members.

“They will investigate root cause of this unfortunate happening and other areas I mentioned, where this is likely to happen due to injustice and inequality and abuse of Land-Use Act.

“The committee would also look into abuse of land that are reserved and those that are for Fulani people that had been confiscated without due regard to the law,” he said.

Mohammed assured people of the state that any person or group of persons found to be directly or indirectly involved in the clash, would be dealt with in accordance with the laws of the land.

PT