Imam Imam
14 November 2009
Gusau — Emir of Zurmi, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, has raised an alarm over indiscriminate encroachment of the famous Rugu game reserve by farmers, and called for swift intervention of the Federal Government.
The Emir said while reacting to allegations that he ordered the destruction of crops and other commercially-viable trees in seven villages, said farmers have encroached and converted to farm lands, more than 10,000 hectares of the reserve without the approval.
"It is of grave concern that the historic Rugu game reserve that originaes from Runka in Katsina state, and stretches across Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto, down to Niger Republic is being encroached upon. Indiscriminate farming activities on the reserve have forced the game and thousands of cattle rearing families to flee down to other parts of the West Africa because their life is threatened.
"About 1,000 farmers from Rukudawa, Gobirawa, Tsanu, Labandi, Dumburun, Gurbin Baure and Kwashebawa villages have encroached more than 10,000 hectares from the reserve and converted same to farmlands," he added.
To salvage the situation, he stated that the Emirate council recently prosecuted 30 persons at Zurmi Magistrate's Court, while 320 farmers from Gurbin Baure district area are awaiting prosecution over their roles in the encroachment.
The Emir alleged that some politicians and elites within the Emirate connived to the lands to their supporters for agricultural purposes without considering the implications of destroying the age long reserve.
The Emir urged federal and state governments to investigate the land dispute in the area with a view to saving the reserve from vandalisation and further encroachment.
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