Osun sets up surveillance to prevent invasion of foreign herders

Osun State Government on Thursday said it has put in place a formidable surveillance team to prevent invasion of foreign herders searching for pastures during the dry season in the state.

The chairman of the state committee on peaceful co-existence between Fulani/Bororo farmers and crop farmers, Mr Toogun Oguntola made this known at a sensitisation programme organised by the Agro Rangers Unit of the state command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Osogbo.

According to him, the team had already identified some dangerous routes in some local government areas of the state and maintained that all efforts would be made to prevent their influxes in the state.

He disclosed that, “the surveillance teams comprising of Fulani and Bororo, have the mandate to alert the government whenever they suspect invasion by foreign herders.’

“Other measures put in place to prevent invasion by herders that may be moving down South to feed their animal during the dry season, include meeting with the leadership of Fulani and Bororo residents in the state to ensure that they do not harbour foreign herders.”

“We have many other measures put in place to ensure the stability of peace in the state saying, two days ago, I held a meeting with the leaders of the Fulanis and Bororos because we are moving towards the dry season now.”

“By next week, we are going to visit Seriki in Oyo. From there, we will move to Kogi, Kwara and Niger States to see the Seriki in those places, because the herders migrate their cattle mostly during the dry season down here.

“We want to meet them and tell them the dos and don’ts if at all they want to send people here. These are the things we do every year before the dry season and that is why we have peace in the state with the support of Governor Gboyega Oyetola”

In his keynote address, the State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Osun State Command, Commandant Ocheja Emmanuel encouraged the farmers, herdsmen, saw millers and all other stakeholders on the need for peaceful co-existence and making use of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Unit of the Corps instead of engaging in a violent attack.

The Commandant discouraged the use of force but believed in peace talks and healthy relationships.

Commandant Ocheja equally appreciated the State Governor for his efforts at ensuring a peaceful State of Osun. The Commandant also commended the efforts of the Commandant General, Ahmed Abubakar Audi for his goodwill to the state.

Also speaking at the event, the Head of Unit, Agro Rangers Unit, Deputy Commandant Yaqeen Rafiu Olarenwaju welcomed all stakeholders to the program and commended the effectiveness of the collaborative efforts between farmers and herders.

He further implored farmers and herdsmen to report the movement of strange nomadic herders to the Corps.

Speaking on the Theme, Agriculture: A Viable Sector to Boost Revenue Generation in the State of Osun and Nigeria As a Whole, the guests speaker Miss Aluko Oluwaseyi Phebian highlighted the importance and diversity of Agriculture. She stated that agriculture is the background of the economy in Nigeria. She emphasized the importance of agriculture as a source of raw materials for many industries in Nigeria as well as providing employment for the citizenry.

The representative of the Commissioner of Agric Mr Eleyele Femi also commended the farmers, herders and other stakeholders for their efforts on peaceful co-existence amongst them. He appreciated the efforts of constant intervention of the Corps and the availability of the Commandant at all times.

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