How Chairman of FCFNL Lafia East Danjuma Angulu Allegedly Led Soldiers To Destroy Fishing Nets Worth N10, 000,000 Million, Carried Away In 3 Canoes

Rabiu Omaku

Fishing Nets worth over N10,000,000 million were allegedly destroyed by Soldiers and Carted Away in three Canoes, this medium gathered.

Speaking the fishermen said; “as you can see us here we are trained to catch fish and not to carry guns if not some of us could be in the forest just for survival, since February when the governor attended the first maiden state fishing festival which supposed to spring positive impact to people within the Feferuwa Lake, instead things are no longer the same again, We don’t know whether the state government has an alternative for us.

We have over one hundred canoes which had over 10 persons working together at Gidan Zayor before but today we have less than 8 canoes because the inhabitant is not lively for fishermen, our members are scattered and others moved to as far as Taraba state in search of conducive atmosphere for businesses.

Do you know that the chairman of Fisheries Cooperative Federation of Nigeria Limited, FCFNL Lafia East chapter, Danjuma Angulu Idris invaded our community with two loaded flying boats carrying armed soldiers, beating fishermen to stupors, shooting sporadically in the air, chasing women and destroying fishing nets worth N10,000,000.00 m.

It was a festival of arson, assault, and looting as the civilians leading the armed soldiers were busy going from household to household fetching out fishing nets, the net is not amongst the forbidden nets as stipulated by law, These are the words of Samuel Orobo Adagache, The second in command to Mai Angwan, Danjuma Ibaku.

He further said, “We voted for Governor Abdullahi Sule just like the way other people voted for him, It was a negative impact on our side, we are slaves in our ancestral homes which we were brought up for over 100 years, the governor paid us with hunger and starvation as we fishermen constitute forty percent of the population in Lafia East Development Area”.

The people of Gidan Zayor fishing community of Assakio, The administration Head of Lafia East Development Area of Lafia Local Government Council of Nasarawa State has appealed to the Executive Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule to rescind his decision on banning fishing activities in Gidan Zayor community while other neighboring communities like Ciya, Tsekusu, Gidan Adamu,Abana,Tungan Hayi,Tungan Daudu ,Kekuna and even Tungan Nupawa which is Just few meters from Gidan Zayor, excluding Tungan Nupawa are busy catching fish.

Zayor community however called on the Honorable Member of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Honorable Bar.Esson Mairiga came to their rescue following the ban on fishing in Zayor community.

Zayor fishing community is a settlement of Agatu and TIV extraction with a fragment of Fulani people who have been living peacefully over the years.

The Deputy Chairman of Fishery Cooperative Federation, Lafia East who doubles as the Mai Angwan Gidan Zayor, Danjuma Ibaku gave the hint during a media chat with Universal Reporters Calling on the Chairman, Council of Chiefs of Lafia East Development Area,The Owosakio of Assakio, The State Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Umaru Dan’akano to reconsider the plight of fishermen, especially at this moment of hardship faced by Nigerians.

SEE THE NUMBER OF NETS  DESTROYED AND OWNERS

1.Ojoko Ogbole-20 cartoons

2.Chocho Ogbole-15 cartoons

3.Danjuma Ibaku-30 cartoons

4.Peter Kongo-15 cartoons

5.Piniga Akama-10 cartoons

6.Emmy Aminu-10 cartoons

7.Luka Ibaku-10 cartoons

8.Jimmy Ogbole-5 cartoons

9,Hussaini Adagache-20 cartoons.

This bring the number of cartoons of nets to 135 which is times N80, 000 each.

The second in command, Samuel Robo Adagache in an exclusive interview told Journalists that the trepidation of Zayor fishing community started one week after the maiden fishing festival that the Governor instructed that our lake should be closed until further notice.

“Though It will be recalled, there was a time they called us, That is Director Fishery and Danjuma Idris Abdullahi and we caught a lot of fish for them because they said the Governor want to eat fish for Sallah and a few weeks later the same people returned and said we should catch another one again for Overseer,

“We are trained to catch fish not to carry gun and now that we were chased out of our business, what do they expect us to do, In this community, the majority of the parents sent their children to school with money from fish.

THE  OWOSAKIO  OF ASSAKIO REACTED

Osula Inarigu, The Ossakio of Owosakio when contacted appreciates the holistic effort of Journalists for their concerns to foster peace in the land.

Giving the assurance that an expanded meeting between Assakio chiefdom and Tungan Nupawa and Gidan Zayor would commence on Tuesday 24, September 2024 at his palace.

The paramount ruler described peace as a catalyst for even and rapid development of every nation,Urging Agatu,Tiv, and Nupawa people to live as brothers and sisters.

Saying development will only thrive in a peaceful atmosphere.

According to him, “Journalists, what exactly do you want? Can you wait until our meeting on Tuesday or what do you precisely want, He asked.

The State Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hon. Umar Dan’akano would not be reached for comment as at press time to confirm the authenticity of the document from the office of the Permanent Secretary banning fishing in only the Zayor community of Assakio Development Area.

While the Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Juda Attah when contacted at the State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources opined that he will only be mandated to speak to the press by either the Commissioner or Permanent Secretary.

Fishermen are accusing the Director, Juda Attah of teleguiding his cohort, Danjuma Angulu Idris for the preponderance fishermen are facing today.

The State Chairman of the Association, Hon.Bashir Mohammed Umar would not be contacted at press time, Universal Reporters Online can confirmed that Ciya, Sabon Gida, Tungan Nupawa, Tungan Tudu, Tsekusu, Abbana, Kekura, and  Daudu fishing activities are ongoing while those from Zayor were ban from fishing until after 30th February 2025.

The question that needed ardent answers is, Is the Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule going back to Tungan Nupawa-Gidan Zayor for the 2025 fishing festival? If yes, is there any alternative made by the Governor in terms of any work apart from fishing?

What happened to the recommendation of the committee which stipulated that the annual fishing festival should be rotational amongst the six fishing sites which includes Gonki fishing sites in Awe, Adio in Agirma community of Doma Local Government, Tunga in Awe Local Government, Feferuwa Lake in Lafia Local Government and Umaisha fishing sites in Toto and amongst other?