Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri
The Borno State Police Command in partnership with the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in Nigeria (MACBAN) has set a committee to check the perennial clashes between farmers and herders across the state.
Inaugurating the committee, at the weekend (Saturday), in Maiduguri, the Commissioner of Police, Abdu Umar, lamented that; “This is a source of concern to the State government and security agencies.”
He stated that the committee was to provide a lasting solution to the farmers-herders perennial clashes over pasture and cattle routes.
He added that the committee comprises representatives of the security agencies, farmers and herders associations.
Besides, he added: “We shall come up with modalities to check the movement of wandering herders across the state,” lamenting that many lives and property were destroyed in some of the affected Local Government Areas.
According to him, the Committee will ensure the ‘surveillance and monitoring’ of both parties to promote peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders.
He said the committee members would comprise representatives of security agencies, farmers and herders associations.
Responding, Chairman of MACBAN, Ahmadu Musa-Karube, called for proactive measures to address the root cause of perennial clashes.
He said the committee members would comprise representatives of security agencies, farmers and herders associations.
He attributed the perennial clashes to lack of cattle routes and the continuous encroachment of various farmlands in the state.
The representative of farmers, Hassan Musa, however advocated for a ban on night grazing of livestock including cattle that eat up some of the crops on farmlands.
“There should also be collaboration between the leaderships of farmers and pastoralists in addressing the lingering problems,” he said.
End.
