Stakeholders involved in mitigating farmers-herders conflicts in Taraba State have advocated for the re-identification and preservation of grazing reserves and cattle routes as a crucial step towards ending the recurring clashes that have resulted in massive loss of lives and property.
The call was made during a stakeholders engagement and town hall meeting organized by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Jalingo, the state capital, on Monday.
Alhaji Ibrahim Barewa, Taraba State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), expressed concern over the encroachment on grazing routes and reserves that were established during the pre-colonial era.
"Our people are finding it difficult to move from one location to another because human activities have taken over many of the grazing paths," Barewa lamented during the meeting, which formed part of the Pathway to National Cohesion, Development and Unity Conference.
He urged security agencies to intensify efforts in curbing the illegal movement of arms and to arrest and prosecute herders found carrying weapons. Barewa also pointed out that some politicians exploit the actions of criminal elements among herders to fuel conflict.
Supporting this position, Alhaji Salisu Kumba, the state chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), emphasized the need for the state government to protect grazing reserves and cattle routes as part of measures to restore peace between farmers and herders.
Kumba described farmers and herders as naturally peaceful people and blamed political interests for stoking divisions. He proposed the establishment of a Herders-Farmers Commission to handle conflict mediation and promote dialogue between the two groups.
Mahmoud Abdullahi, Director of Livestock Services in the Taraba State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, revealed that the state has nine gazetted grazing reserves but acknowledged that widespread encroachment has continued to exacerbate the conflict.
"The ministry is working toward re-identifying grazing reserves and cattle routes in the state to help address these challenges," Abdullahi stated, adding that the state government is committed to preventing further clashes.
He attributed the neglect of grazing reserves to lack of patronage and increasing human settlement activities, while also identifying drug abuse among young herders as another factor driving violence against farmers.
Earlier, Zakari Muhammad, the Director of NOA in Taraba, highlighted Nigeria's security challenges, which vary from region to region, including extremism, banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, and farmer-herder clashes.
Muhammad explained that the NOA's Pathway to National Cohesion and Unity Initiative aims to develop region-specific strategies to address security issues while promoting national unity and development.
"We strongly believe that combating these challenges requires a multifaceted approach that promotes national cohesion, development, and unity. We urge stakeholders to commit to peaceful coexistence, recognize shared humanity and interests, support collaborative initiatives, and empower traditional and community leaders in conflict resolution efforts," he said.
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