Varsity, Conciliation Resources Seek New Policy To Curb Farmer/Herder Crisis

The Centre for Peace and Security Studies, Modibbo Adama University, Yola and Conciliation Resources have advised governments of ECOWAS countries to unveil a new policy framework aimed at addressing structural problems and revive broken peace building structures to address farmers/herders crises.

Janet Adama Mohammed, West Africa program director, Conciliation Resources, gave the advice at a research validation/seminar held at the university in Yola.

She said the research work was recommended for a harmonised system of cattle taxes payment, vaccination and strengthening of  dialogue mechanisms to resolve issues of  stray animals into farmland and movement of animals for grazing.

She added that areas, mobility patterns  of pastoralists and dynamics that affect livelihoods of herders and indigenous people who are in the context were reviewed.

“Also, the inter relationship between the pastoralists, state, security agencies and gender dynamics were looked at.

“The research realised that herders from Niger Republic pay cross-border taxes when they enter Nigeria and also pay at each local government area as well as  protection taxes to insurgents.

The adequacy of ECOWAS law of free movement in changing patterns of mobility and growing strength of pastoralism in the region was also studied.

Professor Abel Adebayo, the dean, School of Postgraduate Studies,  who spoke on behalf of the vice chancellor, said the revalidation work was to discover more findings to reduce farmer/herder crises as they compete for scarce resources.

He said strategic measures to monitor borders are relevant to socio-economic development of any state.

The director, Centre for Peace and Security, Professor Jude Momodu, in his remarks said the research tends to see that farmers and herders both use water and vegetation peacefully.

The work, he added, seeks to open eyes of policy makers and state actors on how to reduce crisis related with farmer/herders.