Bauchi State Govt sets up probe panel over alleged encroachment on Lame-Bura Game Reserve
By Kamalu Nuhu Ilelah.
The Bauchi State Government has inaugurated a committee to investigate allegations of encroachment and unauthorised land allocation within the Lame-Burra Game Reserve.
The State Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Abdullahi Muhammad Gwaram, who inaugurated the committee, said the move followed a directive by Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed to establish the facts surrounding the alleged encroachment and land allocation within the protected area.
Abdullahi Gwaram clarified that Lame Burra is a game reserve, not a forest reserve, stressing that the distinction was important in determining the activities permitted within the area.
He explained that while farming might be allowed in certain forest reserves, such activities could not be undertaken in a game reserve without the necessary authorisation.
The commissioner said the committee, which comprises representatives of the Ministries of Justice, Lands and Survey, and Housing, was mandated to determine whether any land had been allocated within the reserve without government approval.
He added that the committee’s findings would guide the state government in determining appropriate measures to address the allegations and safeguard the protected area.
Abdullahi Gwaram said the committee had the authority to invite individuals and relevant stakeholders to provide information that could assist its investigation.
He therefore urged anyone with credible evidence to come forward.
He emphasised the sensitivity of the reserve, particularly in view of security concerns, noting that the government needed to establish the facts before taking further action.
The commissioner gave the committee three weeks to complete its assignment and submit its report, explaining that its work would complement that of a separate, higher-level committee headed by the Secretary to the State Government.
He said the committee’s primary responsibility was to establish the facts surrounding the allegations and provide the government with reliable information to guide its decisions.
In his remarks, the committee’s chairman, Comrade Sale Umar Misau, expressed appreciation for the confidence reposed in the members by the state government, describing the appointment as both a responsibility and an opportunity to serve.
Comrade Sale Umar, who said he was familiar with the issues surrounding the reserve, assured the government that the committee would conduct a thorough investigation to ensure the matter was properly examined and resolved.
He pledged that members would carry out their assignment without fear or favour, adding that the committee was committed to establishing the facts and submitting findings that would assist the government in taking appropriate action.
