‘How Anambra, Enugu govts addressed farmers/herders clash’

The two Southeast states of Anambra and Enugu have been able to effectively stem the recurring clashes between farmers and herders at a time when their peers and the federal government were at a loss on how to begin, the Fulani socio-cultural organization, has said. In an interview with journalists on the sideline of the […]

The two Southeast states of Anambra and Enugu have been able to effectively stem the recurring clashes between farmers and herders at a time when their peers and the federal government were at a loss on how to begin, the Fulani socio-cultural organization, has said.

In an interview with journalists on the sideline of the National Executive Committee of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association(MACBA) weekend in Minna, the body’s Zonal Chairman, Southeast, Alhaji Gidado Siddiki said Governors Willie Obiano and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi were open-minded in their approach to tackling, what has become a recurring decimal across the country.

He said the two governors through stakeholders meetings which included the leadership of the herders associations, farmers unions, traditional rulers and community leaders across all the local government areas in the affected states, were able to understand the causes of the clashes and found amicable ways of addressing them.

He explained that the two governors working with the outcome of the meetings of all stakeholders, set up security committees, which were made up of all the Council chairmen, traditional and community leaders, youth groups, state officials as well as representatives of the herders and farmers, who work tirelessly in entrenching peaceful co-existence among all groups.

He averred that the measures, which have worked in stemming the tide of violent conflict among herders and farmers in the two states should serve as models to others.

He commended both governors for recognizing the rights of all Nigerians to live and do business anywhere in the country.

“Conflict between herdsmen and farmers has a long history; the solution has been to engage all stakeholders to find an amicable way of resolving such,” he noted.

He called on politicians to avoid exacerbating the conflict for selfish reasons.