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Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar
Govt alone can’t solve Farmers- Herdsmen Clash- Gen. Abdulsalami
Olabode Adaramola
A former Military Head of State, General Abdulsalami A. Abubakar, has said that the solution to the persistent bloody clash between herdsmen and farmers across the country should not be left to government alone.
The former military leader turned -farmer, said the crisis requires all hands to be on deck, especially intervention of well meaning individuals in the country.
He stated this on Thursday after hosting Niger State governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, his Kebbi State counterpart, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh and Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) Mr. Godwin Emefiele at his Maizube Farms on the outskirts of Minna, Niger State capital .
Gen. Abubakar hinged the escalation of the clashes on the increase rate of urbanisation and the attendant reduction in availability of grazing land for livestocks .
“The solution to the persistent clashes between farmers and herdsmen requires that all hands should be on deck. This should not be left to the government alone. We have to join hands with government to resolve the crisis.
“The livestocks need grazing field and water points but the rapid rate of urbanisation has grossly affected this,” said the Elder Statesman.
He however called on the government at all levels in the country to provide grazing reserves with adequate water points to stem down the face off, destruction and un-wanton killings by the warring farmers and herdsmen.
“In providing the grazing reserves for these herdsmen, government should endeavour to build schools for the children of the nomadic herdsmen. This is very important,” Gen. Abubakar advised.
The former Nigeria leader had earlier told the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh that clashes between farmers and herdsmen had never been limited to the country saying, “the crisis in not limited to this country, it occurs in virtually all the countries in West Africa”.
Earlier, in his remarks the Minister disclosed that his Ministry is perfecting the use of Cassava leaves which are abound in the country as feeds for Cows as part of efforts to mitigate the crisis.
