Government alone can’t solve farmers, herdsmen clash, says Abubakar
Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, yesterday, said solution to the persistent bloody clash between herdsmen and farmers across the country should not be left to government alone.
The former military leader said the crisis requires all hands to be on deck, especially, well meaning individuals in the country.
He said this after hosting Niger State governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, his Kebbi State counterpart, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh and governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele at his Maizube Farms on the outskirts of Minna, Niger State capital.
General Abubakar hinged the escalation of clashes on the increase rate of urbanisation and the attendant reduction in availability of grazing land for livestock.
“The solution to the persistent clashes between farmers and herdsmen require that all hands should be on deck. This should not be left to the government alone. We have to join hands with government to resolve the crisis.
“The animals need grazing field and water points but the rapid rate of urbanisation has grossly affected this,” the General noted.
He however called on the government at all levels to provide grazing reserves with adequate water points to stem down the face off, destruction and un-wanton killing by the warring farmers and herdsmen.
“In providing the grazing reserves for these herdsmen, government should endeavour to build schools for the children of the nomadic herdsmen. This is very important,” Gen. Abubakar advised.
The former military leader had earlier told the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh that clashes between farmers and herdsmen have never been limited to the country saying, “the crisis in not limited to this country, it occurs in virtually all the countries in West Africa”.
Earlier the Minister disclosed that his Ministry is perfecting the use of Cassava leaves which are abound in the country as feeds for Cows as part of efforts to mitigate the crisis.
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3 Comments
This talk of grazing reserves is so annoying. Cattle rearers do not have a special place in Nigeria. Government does not need to provide for them to do their business. Just enforce the laws of the land : illegal usage of another man’s land is a crime.
This is the 21st century, you want to farm, get land.
Abi will government provide reserves for those who want to farm rubber too? And while we’re at it, what of reserves for shoemakers and welders? Abi those ones are not Nigerians?
“He however called on the government at all levels to provide grazing reserves with adequate water points to stem down the face off, destruction and un-wanton killing by the warring farmers and herdsmen.”
1. NO to grazing reserves.
2. The owners of these herds of cattles, PMB, are wealthy individuals that can own ranches.
3. Cattle rearing is an aspect of farming, and like every business does not need government sympathy but regulation. Government sympathy for cattle owners is simply being biased.
4. This sympathy for the herdsmen should stop. They are not more Nigerian than the rest of us.
5. So these herdsmen are Nigerians.
There is really no crisis here. Herdsmen are business men who should follow the law like the rest of us. If they want grazing land for their cattle, they should buy the land themselves. Afterall they don’t share their profits with those who own the land they impose themselves upon. This nonsense by the government according special rights to these herdsmen must stop. I would strongly encourage every state to legislate against the criminal activities of these herdsmen. Any of them found with guns without license should also be prosecuted. In the absence of government doing their job, communities should come together to guard against the excesses of these herdsmen.
We will review and take appropriate action.