Stakeholders in Nasarawa State have called on farmers and herders to see themselves as partners who need to complement each other and not rivals.
The stakeholders made the call at a one-day town hall meeting organised by the Nasarawa State Directorate of National Orientation Agency (NOA) on Friday in Lafia.
The engagement theme is ‘Mitigating farmers-herders conflict as a pathway to National Cohesion.
Speaking at the event, Mr Augustine Akwe-Doma, Nasarawa State Director of NOA, said that the meeting addressed the pressing issue of farmers and herders’ conflict in the state.
The NOA Director in the state noted that the two parties involved, who were supposed to be partners, had allowed resource competition, land ownership, among others to divide them.
He said that the conflicts between farmers and herders have reached a boiling point, threatening the fabric of society.
“We have witnessed loss of lives, destruction of properties, and displacement of communities.
“Farmers lost their crops in the farms, herders their livestock and families their loved ones in these conflicts.
“The number of persons who unfortunately died due to these conflicts is not just statistics, they are our neighbours, friends, and fellow citizens,” the director added.
Akwe-Doma emphasised that the solution to the conflicts requires a multifaceted approach, so they organised the meeting to facilitate understanding and a collective decision to end it.
On his part, Mag.-Gen. Hilary Nzan, Commander of Army 4 Special Forces, Doma, Nasararawa State, represented by Brig.-Gen. Haruna Audu lauded NOA for the meeting and advised people against taking the law into their own hands.
He emphasised that the military was ready to decisively deal with criminals disturbing the peace in the country under whatever guise.
The commander, however, advised farmers and herders to report to the constituted authorities when their farms or cattle were destroyed for amicable resolutions.
“When issues concerning destruction of either crops or animals are reported, the authority will ensure that the one at fault pays damages or compensation to serve as a deterrent to others,” he added.
He added that food and meat are all important for human survival and growth; as such, farmers and herders should see themselves as partners and not rivals for the overall development of the country.
Also, Shetima Jauro-Mohammed, Commissioner of Police (CP), represented by DCP Danjuma Raga, said that farmers and herders are key to the country’s food security, hence the need for them to live in peace.
He emphasised that there would be no food and meat to eat when farmers did not go to farms and herders did not rear livestock.
“Your work is complementary to each other and all of you are important for the development of the country, so it does not profit any group when there are conflicts,” he added.
On his part, Barr. Esson Meriga (PDP), Member representing Lafia North at the Nasarawa State House of Assembly commended NOA for organising the meeting.
The lawmaker recalled how farmers and herders in the state used to live in peace, related freely and supported each other in the past and wondered what went wrong.
“Our parents used to offer their farms to herders to stay during the dry season, and when they are living during the rainy season, the cattle’s dung is used as fertiliser in the farms,” he added.
He promised that the assembly would continue to make laws that would support the effort of the state government towards ensuring that the state continues to be peaceful.
The meeting had in attendance farmers, herders, leaders of different ethnic groups, representatives of different security agencies, traditional rulers, among others.
The representatives of farmers and herders at the meeting pledged to be at the forefront of propagating peace in their respective areas and to enlighten their people on the discussions at the event. (NAN).