KACRAN tasks monarchs on end to farmers-herders clashes

By : Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri

Date: 3 March 2025 4:11am WAT

Old wounds, new conflict on Nigeria’s troubled grazing reserves

A herder watches over a cattle inside a grazing reserve in Paikon Kore community in Gwagwalada on June 4, 2024. - With more than 300 ethnic groups, Nigeria often struggles with outbreaks of intercommunal or ethnic violence, and herder-farmer disputes are common. Nigerian officials are promoting a plan to give traditionally nomadic Fulani herders their own land on dozens of designated reservations, arguing it can stop confrontation by preventing cattle from wandering onto farms and settlements. The authorities want to extend the rollout of reserves and say the scheme will help heal old wounds. (Photo by Kola Sulaimon / AFP)

The Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) has tasked traditional rulers to end the perennial farmers-herders clashes in the country.

Unveiling monarchs’ proactive measures in Damaturu, Yobe State, the National President of KACRAN, Khalil Mohammed Bello, said the traditional rulers are to adopt proactive measures in resolving the perennial conflicts between farmers and pastoralists over pasture and water-points across the country.

He noted that the task before the monarchs, particularly, the ones in the North is rooted in the historical roles of traditional rulers to adopt proactive measures in resolving conflicts over grazing reserves and water points along the rivers basins in the country.

Bello said the monarchs have the authority to grant permission to graze, in ensuring mutual respect and cooperation between the warring farmers and herders. “Our monarchs are also in a position to contribute significantly in the nation’s peace building for stability and development of the country.

He, therefore, urged the federal and state governments to engage the traditional rulers, by providing them the necessary support to achieve an effective resolution over pastures and water points to avert incessant conflicts.

The cattle rearers’ association, also called on state governments to empower the monarchs by granting them administrative authority, financial resources and logistics to mediate conflicts in their chiefdoms or emirates.

While acknowledging the efforts of the Emir of Fika, Alhaji Muhammad Ibn Idrisa, he said: “The emir has been engaging with us in the sustenance of peace during farming and harvests of crops in Fika emirate.”

Similarly, he added that the Emir of Bade, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Suleiman, also assisted the state government in reclaiming the Jakusko Nasari Grazing Reserves from being encroached by local farmers.