By Muazu Muazu Yola
Disturbed by the increasing rate of cross-border banditry rocking the two neighbouring states of Adamawa and Taraba, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and his Taraba State counterpart  Darius Ishiaku have held a joint expanded security meeting to proffers solution to these challenges bedevilling the two states.
The meeting which was held at the presidential lodge of the Adamawa state Government House, was also attended by First Class traditional rulers and Chiefs, religious and  community leaders, security chiefs and other relevant stakeholders from both states who converged to brainstorm and chart a way forward over the cross border banditry and other forms of criminalities in the two states.

Speaking at the meeting, Governor Fintiri expressed concern over the cross border security situation in the two states especially in the area of  farmers and herders conflict which continued to destroy lives and  properties and strangulated agricultural activities in the two states.

He expressed fear that if concrete measures were not taken to nip the challenges in the bud the two states may experienced food shortages and insecurity.
Fintiri further stressed that, since he came on board he has taken practical steps to tackle the security challenges bedevilling the state and addressed the incessant farmers/herders clashes  with alot of successes recorded in the last one year but unfortunately some mercenaries from Taraba State keep  invading the state to carry out destructions which always lead to reprisals on Adamawa citizens who did not carry the attack.

He also identified encroachment by some farmers in Taraba State as another caused for this incessant clashes which the two states must come together to fight headlong in the interest of peace and development of the two states and called  for strict measures to overcome the challenges.

The governor further assured the gathering that, Adamawa state government is always willing and ready to work together with its Taraba State counterpart and all stakeholders from the two states to bring this situation to an end and called for the supports of border communities to achieve this task.

On his part, Gov. Darius Ishiaku  who  was represented by his deputy Alh. Haruna Manu disagreed with the position of Adamawa state government who blamed mercenaries from Taraba State as being responsible for these incessant attacks insisting that the perpetrators of these crisis often come from Adamawa.
He further noted that, Taraba State government under Arch. Darius Ishiaku has made frantic efforts to resolve farmers/herders conflicts through series of meetings and setting up of various committees to tackle the issue but promised to work with his Adamawa counterpart to ensure that lasting peace  is achieved.
He admitted that, cattle rustling is one of the major causes of the crisis in border communities of the two states and expressed optimism that, with this renewed commitments and strategies, lasting peace will be restored in the two states.