Residents calls Gov't attention as herders farms destruction persist

 

By Yusuf A Yusuf, Damaturu 

Residents of Yobe State have called on the State Government to engage Hunters and other Vigilante Group so as to tackle the lingering issue of herders destructing farm products in the state.

The called was made after a heels of complaints in the recent days by farmers.

It's found out that many people lamented as a result of farmer/herder conflicts which forced many farmers harvesting unripe sorghum, beans and other farm products in the state.

Reports indicated that many farmlands were destroyed by the herders in various local government areas in the state more particularly areas like Gulani, Gujba, Tarmuwa, Jakusko, Nangere, Damaturu, Bursari, Fune, Fika, Yunusari and Karasuwa. 

Reports also indicated that the menace is yet to be curbed despite the efforts made by the state government, traditional rulers and concerned authorities in deploying security personnel to various areas as well as constituting dialogue committees.

One of the farmers who seeks for anonymity said, "these herders are only afraid of military and the hunters or vigilantee group and most of the time it's the hunters or vigilantee group that knows the nooks and crannies of the community. 

"So I advised that the government should empower and deploy them to farmers so as to protect their farmlands against destruction ". He said.

Another resident said, "there's strong needs for government to engage Hunters and Vigilante Group to protect our farmlands as many farm products were destroyed by the herders".

In an effort to speak with the Yobe State Government, the Special Adviser on Security to Governor Mai Mala Buni, Brig. Gen Abdulsalam Dahiru (rtd) said Yobe State Government is doing its best to end the menace. 

He noted that, government will hold an enlarged security meeting with heads of security agencies, Chairman, Yobe State Council of Chiefs and Chairmen of the 17 LGs in the state on the issue in the coming days.

He revealed that,"thereafter, another meeting with all stakeholders including Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria, Alhaya and other similar herders organizations together with all farmers associations in the state and traditional rulers. Heads of security agencies will be part of all the engagements in order to find lasting solution to the continuing farmers herders conflicts".

In the meantime, it's also found out that chairmen of some of the affected local government areas have held series of meetings with farmers and herders in order to mitigate the menace of  destruction of crops and farms but all these meetings and series of dialogue have not yielded the desired result as herders in the affected areas have remained adamant with the issue resulting in deadly conflicts. 

It was gathered that one of such issues is the recent incident that occurred in Yunusari Local Government Area which resulted in 3 fatalities. The clash in Yunusari has continue to generate tension among the local communities. This could also result in ethnic conflict because the herders and farmers belong to two different ethnic groups. 

The problems of farmer-herder conflicts in Nigeria are a series of age long disputes that keeps reoccurring  year in, year out. These conflicts have been prominent especially in Northern Nigeria since the return of democracy in 1999.