By Abdulazeez Sani Labaran

After months of tension and disruption, peace has returned to Malleri in Kwami Local Government Area of Gombe State, following a successful mediation that resolved a long-standing conflict between farmers and herders. The resolution, achieved through the collaborative efforts of the Kwami LGA administration, the Gombe Network of Civil Society (GONET), and Youth O’clock Nigeria, has led to the reopening of the Kurugu and Bojude markets, which had been shut down due to the crisis.

The conflict, which strained relationships between the farming and herding communities, had threatened food security, economic activities, and local harmony. However, through a series of inclusive dialogue sessions involving community leaders, youth groups, and security agencies, both sides reached a peaceful agreement.

Speaking at the reconciliation event, Deputy Chairman of Kwami LGA, Alhaji Dahiru Ajiya—who represented the Council Chairman, Hon. Ahmad Wali Doho—reaffirmed the local government’s commitment to protecting the lives and property of all residents. He announced the formal allocation of designated grazing lands to herders in the area to minimize future clashes and called on all parties to uphold the peace.

> “This resolution is a victory for everyone,” Ajiya said. “We have allocated grazing areas to reduce encroachment, and we urge both farmers and herders to maintain peaceful coexistence for the growth of our community.”

Ambassador Ibrahim Yusuf, Chairman of the Gombe Network of Civil Society (GONET), praised the inclusive and community-driven nature of the peace process. He urged residents to not only act peacefully but also preach peace and commit to living harmoniously with one another.

> “Conflict resolution is not the duty of government alone. It involves all stakeholders,” Yusuf said. “We must be intentional in building peace from the grassroots level.”

During the event, over 3,000 people were in attendance, including community members and youth leaders. Many called on the government and security agencies to apply fairness in their dealings with cattle rearers, stressing that herders are also citizens and indigenes of Gombe State.

The State Coordinator of Youth O’clock Nigeria, Comrade Abdulazeez Sani Labaran, called on young people to reject violence and embrace dialogue as a means of addressing grievances.

> “Gombe youth are productive citizens who contribute meaningfully to the state’s GDP. We urge them to choose peace because they are the future leaders,” he said.

In a show of appreciation, the leader of the herders’ community, Jauro Hammadu Malleri, thanked the government for bringing development projects to rural areas. He pledged the support of his community in upholding peace and cooperating with local authorities. As a traditional symbol of reconciliation, herders shared kola nuts, signifying the end of hostilities and the beginning of a new chapter.

The mediation effort and the positive outcome have been widely celebrated in Kwami as a milestone toward sustainable peace. Community leaders, stakeholders, and residents pledged continued collaboration to prevent future conflicts and build a more united and prosperous local government area.

The reopening of the Kurugu and Bojude markets has restored economic life to the area, signaling a hopeful return to normalcy and communal harmony.

By Our Correspondent

Ambassador Lawrence Agubuzu, Eze Ogbunechendo of Ezema Olo Kingdom in Ezzagu LGA of Enugu State has urged the Igbo community in Gombe State and Nigerians in general to demonstrate love to their neighbours to foster peace and unity of the country.
Agubuzu who made the call on Friday night in Gombe while addressing the Igbo community in the state said demonstrating love was key to addressing security challenges in communities.
He stated that many Nigerians and leaders alike were quick to preach love but fail to demonstrate it in reality, hence the level of hatred that is resulting in crisis, security challenges and disunity.
“ Demonstrating love is key to achieving peace and helping to foster a culture of love, empathy, and mutual respect for one another.
“We must begin to apply the principles of genuine love in our daily interactions as Nigerians and this will help us build a more peaceful country, free of conflicts and security challenges.
“If we love our neighbours as ourselves wherever we find ourselves, our country and the world will be better for us.
“If love of neighbour by us becomes infectious, other tribes and ethnic groups in Nigeria will follow our example.
“ The security personnel who block some roads in order to extort from or harm travellers will no longer do if they love others as themselves.
“The armed bandits who occupy other peoples’ forests and farm lands or who destroy villages and kill innocent villagers will not continue if they love their neighbours as themselves.
“You can not kill or steal from or kidnap the person you love; this is why we must not only stop at preaching love but move to the level of showing it daily,” he said.
Agubuzu while reading his address titled: Love Your Neighbour as Yourself,” urged the Igbo community in Gombe State to be hardworking and to live in peace with their host community.
He urged them to shun illegal dealings and avoid selling fake and adulterated products in the course of doing their businesses.
He commended the state government and people of Gombe State for being welcoming to all Nigerians while also acknowledging the huge contributions of the Igbo community to the economic growth and overall development of the state.
For his part, Mr Herbert Nwoye, the President General, Igbo Community Welfare Association, Gombe State commended the royal father for coming to speak to them.
Nwoye assured that his advice would be followed for the good of the Igbo community living in the state.
Our Correspondent reports that Agubuzu who is the Chancellor of the Federal University of Kashere is in Gombe to perform his duty as Chancellor, as the varsity marks its third combined convocation.
The university will on Saturday be conferring on Agubuzu, the prestigious Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa), in honour of his contributions to global diplomacy and traditional leadership and also for his commitment to national development and intellectual advancement.

By Our Correspondent

Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, on Thursday returned to Marte after spending the night in the community on Saturday, as part of ongoing efforts to restore peace, rebuild trust, and foster sustainable development in the Lake Chad region.

Zulum, who departed Maiduguri last week, has been leading coordination efforts around security logistics and community resilience following a recent surge in Boko Haram attacks.

Since Saturday, the governor has visited nine communities—Marte, Kala-Balge, Wulgo, Ngala, Lugumani, Gajibo, Koibe, Dikwa, and Ajiri.

During his visit to Marte, Governor Zulum held a closed-door meeting with military commanders to discuss modalities for sustaining peace and stability in the area and its surroundings.

“I am here to monitor the efficacy of our recent re-resettlement efforts. I am very happy to note that the community is fully back, and soldiers are on ground. Normal economic activities have resumed in Marte,” the governor said.

He added, “I am very happy, and insha Allah, normalcy will be restored soon.”

Governor Zulum was accompanied by key government officials including Hon. Engr. Bukar Talba, representing Marte, Monguno, and Nganzai in the House of Representatives; the Commissioner for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Sugun Mai Mele; Commissioner for Agriculture, Engr. Bawu Musami; Permanent Secretary of Government House, and Barr. Mustapha Ali Busuguma, among others.

FG, Military Praised for Swift Action

Speaking to journalists in Marte, Zulum commended the federal government and the Nigerian Armed Forces for responding swiftly to his plea for increased security in the area.

“The federal government and the Nigerian Armed Forces have responded positively to our request to enhance security in the affected communities. We have seen many troops and equipment deployed,” he stated.

“I want to commend the Nigerian Armed Forces for the cooperation they have been giving us. Without their support, we couldn’t have achieved much. I also want to appreciate all stakeholders contributing to the search for peace and the restoration of normalcy,” Zulum added.