Association warns herdsmen against grazing cattle on farm lands
NAN-AE-13
Grazing
By Awayi Kuje
Karu (Nasarawa state), Oct. 17, 2016 (NAN) The Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, a Fulani socio-cultural association, has warned herdsmen to avoid grazing on farm lands, to stem the frequent clashes between them and farmers.
Alhaji Bello Abdullahi-Badejo, the National President of the association, told newsmen in Karu, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, that grazing on farmland could heighten food insecurity in the country.
He said that grazing on farmland was not a good habit, and appealed to the farmers to also show understanding with herdsmen whenever misunderstanding arose among them.
Abdullahi-Badejo stressed the need for both farmers and herdsmen to always maintain cordial relations in the interest of peace and national development.
He also called on Nigerians to embrace peace and tolerate one another, irrespective of ethnic, religion and political affiliation in the overall interest of the country.
“The role of this association is to preach peace, unity not only to the Fulani community but to Nigerians at large because no society can develop in an atmosphere of rancour and confusion.
“The security challenges in parts of the country have affected our lives and socio-economic development negatively.
“It is in view of this, I want to urge herdsmen not to graze on farm lands.
“I also urge farmers to co-exist peacefully with herdsmen so as to avert clashes in the interest of peace and national development.
“Without peaceful co-existence between the farmers and the herdsmen, agricultural production and the socio-economic development will be affected negatively,” president said.
Abdullahi-Badejo also called on the Federal Government to initiate good policies and programmes that would have direct bearing on the lives of the herdsmen in the Nigeria.
He appealed to the Fulani community and other Nigerians to be law abiding, respect constituted authority and shun negative tendencies.
NAN recalls that in order to stem the frequent clashes between herdsmen and farmers, the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, recently announced government’s plan to seek the supports of key leaders of the Fulani tribe towards establishing grazing reserves for herdsmen.
The minister, who spoke at a retreat on livestock and dairy development in Abuja, said “though the issues around the herdsmen posed a real challenge, the present administration is exploring all avenues to resolve the problem.’’
The minister said that the Federal Government had opted for ranches, saying that that states that do not want grazing fields would not be forced. (NAN)
AKW/AIB/AFA
Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Felix Ajide
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