FG sets up committee to end farmers/herdsmen conflict

The Federal Government has set up a 16-member technical committee to develop a road map and find lasting solution to the lingering conflict between farmers and herdsmen in parts of the country.

Minister of Interior, Lieutenant-General Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd), who inaugurated the committee on Monday, in Abuja, stressed the need to tackle the problem head-on.

He said the committee would be expected to draw up a road map for an all-inclusive gathering of stakeholders to address the perennial crises.

“The committee is expected to draw up a road map for an all-inclusive gathering of stakeholders to address the lingering conflicts between the pastoralists and sedentary farmers,” he said.

The minister decried the escalating nature of the crises which had resulted in the wanton destruction of lives and property, and also threatening the socio-economic development of the nation.

“You will recall that the conflict has been escalating at every passing year with more violent proportion, different dimensions and increasing geographical spread,

“This has led to the wanton destruction of lives and property, distrust amongst the ethno-religious groups in the country and threat to the internal security and socio-economic development of the nation,” he said.

He gave the committee two weeks to fashion out a framework to resolving the crises which included identifying the problems underlying the conflict from regional and national perspectives.

The committee is also expected to identify regional and local laws that impact on the conflict, and outline a tentative strategy to deal with the conflict.

Earlier, the chairman of the committee and Director-General, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Professor Oshita O. Oshita, assured of the dedication of members to the task ahead.

Oshita said the surest catalyst to boosting the Federal Government’s diversification effort, was to find a lasting solution to the farmers/herdsmen crises to resuscitate the economy.

He emphasised the need for peace for any meaningful development in the country, and urged all stakeholders to cooperate with the committee in this regard.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the committee comprised security experts, members of the academia, diplomats and entrepreneurs.