Herdsmen attack on farmers may hinder agriculture development — Okoh

The Primate, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Most Revd Nicholas Okoh has said that the Federal Government’s efforts to use agriculture to drive the country’s economy might not yield the desire results, if issue of herdsmen menace are not properly handled.

The cleric also identified policy on grazing reserve as another threat against agricultural development in the country, describing it as a manifest favouritism, which holds no good for the nation.

He said the fear of being attacked by herdsmen had forced majority of farmers to flee from their areas, adding that agricultural policies could not be driven without the grass root dwellers.

The Primate maintained that lukewarm attitude displayed by the government towards the matter is creating more problems; therefore, government must rise up to its responsibility and save the country from sliding into another civil war.

“Fear of herdsmen menace is another key source of fear around the country side. Innocent citizens are attacked in their homeland by herdsmen, who are heavily armed. In an administration that aims at promoting agriculture, people cannot go to their farms for fear of being killed, raped, maimed, etc,” he said.