Peace committee urges Southern Kaduna farmers to open grazing routes for herders

By Saxone Akhaine, Kaduna

29 October 2020 | 4:05 am

Southern Kaduna Joint Peace Committee, inaugurated by the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Rev. Yakubu Pam, has urged farmers in the region to open all cattle grazing routes.

During a visit to 12 chiefdoms and traditional rulers in Southern Kaduna, co-chairmen of the committee, Professor Ben Gugwong and Dr. Ahmad Yande, said the herders would be returning for grazing as the dry season approaches.

The committee, while at Agwam Bajju Palace in Zonkwa, the headquarters of Zango Kataf Council, and the Kagoro chief’s palace in Kaura Council, disclosed that one of the major causes of the herders/farmers clashes that need to be immediately addressed was to ensure that all cattle routes were open for herders, who would be returning for grazing soon.

The 10-man committee was reportedly inaugurated to consolidate on the peace efforts, and to find lasting solution to the problems in some parts of the region.

It urged the chiefs to help educate their subordinates, who would also assist in conscientising farmers at the grassroots on the cattle routes, to restore sustainable peace.

“We want to go back to our normal way of life where you find it difficult to distinguish a Fulani man from a Bajju man or Kagoro man,” it stated.

Responding, the Agwam Bajju I, Nuhu Bature, commended the committee for its tactfulness and for working for peace in Southern Kaduna.

The monarch appealed to the committee to advise both the farmers and herders to stay away from the Kurmin B Forest, which had been reserved for history.

“The Kurmin B Forest has been there before we were born for almost 400 years and we must not allow it to be tempered with,” he said.

Similarly, the Chief of Kagoro, Mr. Afuwei Bonet, said without peace, there would be no human existence, urging all to work for peace and consider humanity first.

The committee is expected to finish its work tomorrow and to hand over its report to Governor Nasir el-Rufai for implementation.