Threats of Communal crisis: Niger Socio-Cultural group calls for urgent intervention in Doko Community

A Passionate Appeal has been made by Doko Progressive Forum ( DPF), to the Niger State goverment, and the governor of Niger State Rt Hon. Mohammed Umar Bago, to as a matter of urgency quickly intervene in resolving the prolonged crisis in Doko Community of Lavun Local Govermnat Area of Niger state.

In a press release signed by the president of the Forum, Col. Jiya Mahmud Liman, Rtd noted that the appeal has become imperative as the two factions are still druming up for another round of crisis in the community.

According to the President, the two factions have been called upon to shield their swords and allow room for dialogue by the state government by inviting the dethroned and the incumbent Etsu Dazhi and other critical stakeholders for possible amicable settlement of the prolonged royal tussle as well as the land dispute towards a lasting Peaceful coexistence among the people of Doko Community.

He also called on the state government to take bold steps by calling on all parties involved in the prolonged conflict to order for sustainable peace to be achieved in the community, adding that the Niger State Judiciary should ensure speedy delivery of the pending judgement in all matters in the courts.

Col. Mahmud Liman Rtd, admonished relevant security agencies to continue to wake up to their responsibility by ensuring those in possession of arms and amunitions that are not entitled to bear are put under check, stressing the need for security agencies and other concern law enforcement bodies to demonstrate a highl level of professionalism and total neutrality in handling the dispute.

He noted with utmost concern the untold hardship, the dispute subjected the Community to, which as a result, majority of the farmers could not go to their farms this farming season due to the crisis.

He appealed to the state government to provide palliative for about 2000 households to avoid the impending hunger in the community.

Warning that henceforth any individual or group found wanting of instigating crisis or causing any act capable of distrupting public peace in Doko and its environs should be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law regardless of the status or affiliation.

Doko crisis, according to the retired military officer, has defied several means of reconciliation, noting that the Etsu Nupe Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, had severally waded in for recocilatory efforts with no possible result.

“The former chairman of Lavun Local government, Hon. Ibrahim Limanko-Pats and other critical stakeholders have tried without any positive result.

“Also, Doko Progressive Forum (DPF), with other leaders of associations in Doko organized several meetings involving the two factions with the view of resolving the crisis and yet to no avail.

“It is against this background, we are now appealing to the government and governor of Niger State to as a matter of urgency, see how to resolve the Doko Community crisis for lasting peace in the community”, he requested

Doko has been engulfed with series of disputes ranging from land and royal tussles in the last twelve years without means of resolving the dispute over the years.

The crisis deteriorated as a result of farmland disputes involving the dethroned Community leader the Etsu Dazhi and the then newly appointed, late Alhaji Bldr. Muhammadu Santali Dazhi.

Regrettably, it was gathered, the farmland crisis degenerated to Boku and extended to Emigba communities on the 30th of June and 2nd July 2021 respectively.

It led to nonumental loss of lives, severe injuries and destruction of valuable properties which later led to another communal clash between two contending groups in Doko on 1st April, 2022 with another life and properties destroyed.