Ahead of the
2019 general elections, the federal government has expressed concerns over the
growing wave of violent altercations between pastoralist and sedentary
farmers,
saying the trend must be halted before the elections.
At a meeting
between the Minister of Interior, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, five state governors
and security chiefs, the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief
Audu Ogbeh however conceded that the federal government has not done enough to
cater for the needs of the herdsmen. “The farmer and herdsmen must not have his
life threatened by circumstances surrounding his profession. We do not want the
farmer to lose his crops nor would we want anyone to. Over the years we have
not done much to look seriously into the issue of livestock development in the
country. People ask the question why should government get involved?
Why
shouldn’t the herdsmen manage their own livestock? I am sad to tell you that in
the last 50 years until recently we may have done enough for the rice farmer,
the cassava farmer, the maize farmer, the cocoa farmer, but we haven’t done
much for herdsmen and that inability and omission on our part is resulting in
the crises we are witnessing today. In Europe, every cow that is farmed gets a
subsidy of Six Euros per day; we have done next to nothing for the cattle
rearers here and as a result its operation has become a threat to the existence
of our farmers and that is what this communique will seek to resolve”, said
Ogbeh. Cattle Colonies “We are planning a programme called cattle colonies not
ranches but colonies where at least 5, 000 hectares of land would be made
available, adequate water, adequate pasture would be made available. We also
want to stop cattle rearers from roaming about; the culture of cattle roaming
about will be stopped. The cattle will be provided with water and adequate
security by the rangers, adequate pasture milk collection even security against
rustlers to enable them lead a normal life. This has been done elsewhere in
India, Ethiopia and even Brazil”, Ogbeh explained. Declaring the meeting open,
Dambazau had earlier established a nexus between communal and electoral
violence, stating that; “Knowing that general elections are fast approaching
and considering the history of political and election violence in Nigeria, all
necessary steps must be taken to ensure that the recently witnessed crimes and
violent conflicts are curtailed with utmost dispatch”. The meeting which is
ongoing was convened by Gen. Dambazau and has governors of Benue, Kaduna,
Niger, Nasarawa and Taraba in attendance as well as the Inspector General of
Police, DG DSS, and Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil
Defence Corps NSCDC. Speaking further, he said; “I wish to express the
appreciation of the FG for your (governors’) individual commitment and
cooperation with the federal security agencies in addressing the menace of
rural crimes particularly kidnapping, rustling and the most recent violent
clashes between herdsmen and farmers. “Threats to peace and public safety in
any form at any location will not be tolerated. It is the responsibility of
governments at all levels to provide, unconditionally, sustainable peace and
public safety within their territorial boundaries. Against this background, the
meeting is convened to primarily bring us together to share our experiences on
the aforementioned security challenges. The meeting will then agree on
necessary measures to be taken and apportion responsibilities. “The immediate
repercussion of this menace include hunger due to acute shortage of food,
diseases, criminal activities and deepening animosity between ethnic and
religious groups. The current situation is very dangerous for the northern part
of the country in particular and the country in general”. The meeting is
currently in a closed session.
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