The Borno State Government has constituted a 10-man committee to investigate the causes of conflicts between farmers and herders across the state with a view to addressing them.
The committee will, among others, “re-establish the defunct cattle routes and identify grazing reserves which have not been adequately utilised.”
Governor Babagana Zulum announced the constitution of the committee at the Nigeria-Cameroon border town of Gamboru town on Monday.
He said the constitution of the committee was one of the necessary measures the state government was taking to prevent farmer-herder clashes across the state.
Zulum said the committee would be chaired by his Special Adviser, Tijjani Guzamala, with representatives from the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, all emirate councils, Miyetti Allah, Alhaya Association and the Governor’s Office as members.
The governor was at Gamboru to distribute food items and N221.7m to over 67,454 families in the Lake Chad Basin Local Government Area of Gamboru-Ngala.
“Let me use this opportunity to announce a committee that will look into the farmers and herders conflicts in all 27 local government areas of Borno State,” said Zulum.
“The committee, among other issues, will re-establish the defunct cattle routes and identify grazing reserves which have not been adequately utilised,” he explained.
He assured that the committee’s recommendations would guide the government in addressing the root causes that lead to conflicts between farmers and herders across the state.
Zulum also brokered a truce between Fulani herders and farmers in Gamboru after weeks of tension and uncertainty that was already ripe for the eruption of violence.
While commending all parties for reaching a consensus during the meeting, Zulum urged people to shun all acts that could lead to violence.
“Borno is a state with agrarian communities. We have Fulanis, we have Shuwas, and we have Kanuris who are nomads as well. We have the same culture and the same tradition. Therefore, I urge all the people of Borno to be law-abiding and to ensure they live in peace with one another,” Zulum said.
The meeting was attended by representatives of Fulani herders and the farming community, as well as the senator representing Borno Central, Barrister Kaka Shehu Lawan, a House of Representative member, Bukar Talba, and traditional and community leaders in the LGA.
No comments:
Post a Comment