Farmers/herders conflict: FG urged to find solution to environmental factors driving herders to south

A University don, Professor Daniel Musa Gwary, on Monday, suggested that addressing environmental factors that were driving Fulani herdsmen migration to the South and establishment of grazing reserves in consenting states by the Federal Government are major solutions to the perennial farmers/herders conflict.

He made this suggestion in Abuja while delivering his paper tagged “Towards an Enduring Peace: Pragmatic approaches to the ending farmers, herdsmen conflict,” a National Summit on Conflict Resolution, organized by both The Nation Newspapers and TV Continental (TV/C).

Gwary, a professor at the Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, said the solution to the lingering conflict is for the Federal Government to improve livestock production and management in order to minimize contacts and friction between herders and farmers.

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He further urged the government to strengthen security arrangement for herders and farming communities, especially in the North-Central zone also known as Middle Belt.

Professor Gwary said it should establish or strengthen conflict mediation, resolution, reconciliation and peace building mechanism, and to also pay a visit to the rural communities to feel the pulse of rural dwellers so as to bring a permanent solution to the clashes.

In his goodwill message, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, whose message was delivered by the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) Operation, Mr. Joshua Habila, assured the participants that the Nigeria Police would collaborate with rural dwellers, especially heads of villages to put a halt to the activities of criminals perpetrating the nefarious acts.

Earlier, the former Commissioner for Information and Strategies in Lagos State, who is Vice-Chairman of TV/C and Coordinator of the event, Mr. Dele Alake, said the reason behind the summit was because the nation is at a critical junction, and therefore, all hands must be on deck to find lasting solution to the persistent crises.