Fulani minority in Babadjou say they are victims land grabbing

The Fulani community in Babadjou subdivision say they are tired of being victims of marginalization and discrimination in the host community.

The minority group that has three main communities in the land say for the past years, they have been victims of land grabbing and the perpetrators are farmers from the host community as well as other farmers from neighboring Magha and Menka respectively situated in the Lebialem and Mezam divisions of the North West and South West Regions.

The Fulani complain that their lands meant for cattle rearing are gradually being invaded by farmers who to a certain extent even want to chase them away. This situation has been leading to inter-tribal conflicts resulting to sometimes the loss of human lives and the most recent was the killing by poisoning of some of cows in the early hours of December 22nd 2022 at a neighborhood called Takang-Bororo, situated at the Magha – Lebialem division- border.

“We really do suffer here in the hands of farmers who complain that our cows eat their crops. This is a grazing land and farmers are the ones to protect their crops by building fences,” said Oumarou, spokesperson of the Fulani community in Babadjou.

“Some of the farmers even come in the form of these boys in bushes and attack us but Allah is always here for our protection,” Oumarou added.

Another grazer says some of the dishonest farmers go as far as selling some of the lands.

“Mr DO, please really take a deep look into this matter because it is serious. Some of the farmers we are talking about even go as far as selling some grazing lands and they sell to farmers from Magha”.

Administrative and municipal authorities, informed of the situation, reacted by organizing an urgent meeting at Takang-Bororo. The meeting gathered traditional authorities from the Fulani community and the host community.

As major resolutions, the Divisional Officer of Babadjou, Yebga Ngos Mathieu Brice, who presided the talks announced the cultivation of fodder plants for cattles and the creation of agro-pastoral boreholes. To resolve the conflict, the administrator requested the list of all occupants of the land to identify those who have been selling plots illegally.

To boost development in the community, the Lord Mayor of Babadjou who was present at the meeting recommended that they send their children to school so as to promote the children’s education – especially their daughters. The community has a primary school which was opened some years ago and had two new buildings offered them this year.

” Look at me, am I not a lady? Why do you decide to keep your children back home instead of sending them to school? You have a school here which has been well equipped, “Tsangue Gisèle Mayor of Babadjou said.

To boost their belief, the Fulani were offered 120 Korans and foodstuff for end of year festivities. They were also reminded that they all are part of Babadjou and are all natives of the land.