The Emir of Muri in Taraba State, Alhaji Abbas Njida Tafida has explained that the 30-day ultimatum he issued to criminal herders to vacate the forests in the state or be forced out became necessary following the alleged atrocities linked to them.

Tafida had on Tuesday during prayers to mark this year’s Eid-el-Kabir gave the ultimatum to the herders to leave Taraba forests.

According to him, information available to him indicated that the rising cases of kidnapping, killings and attacks in the state are linked to the criminal herders occupying the forests.

Speaking in Hausa language, the emir charged the leadership of the Fulani herders in the state to fish out the bad eggs among them for a peaceful society.

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He stated, “To Fulani herdsmen in the forests, you came into this state and we accepted you; why then will you be coming to towns and villages to kidnap people and rape our women?

“Because of this unending trend, Fulani herdsmen in the state living in the forests have been given 30 days to vacate the forests.

“We are tired of having sleepless nights and the hunger in the land is enormous; we will not allow this to continue.”

Our correspondent reports that kidnapping and killings have been rampant in Taraba State in recent times and hardly a day passes without reported cases of abduction or killings in parts of the state.