As part of measures to enforce anti-grazing laws, the Delta State government will disarm all arm-bearing herders and arrest underage herders.
The Special Adviser on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, Chief Edwin Uzor, made the call in his remarks at a one-day conference in Asaba over the weekend. The theme was “Promoting Harmonious Relationships Between Farmers and Herdsmen for Sustainable Development of Delta State.”
He frowned at the activities of armed herdsmen and recommended that anti-grazing laws be enforced in addition to establishing ranches.
Uzor called for the establishment of task forces to man entry points to the state, profiling of herdsmen, identification of dens of armed herdsmen, and total retooling of Operation Delta Sweep to stamp out the activities of criminally minded herdsmen.
“Herders should keep at bay anything capable of jeopardising peace. Host communities should also operate within the confines of the law. There should be peace between genuine herdsmen and host communities to strengthen peaceful coexistence.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Livestock and Inter-ethnic Relations, Chief Jeffrey Azagba, called for harmonious relations between farmers and herders to enhance food security and sustainable development of the state.
He said Delta State, with its rich agricultural land and vast water resources, had the potential to be a leading producer of food and economic growth. Still, conflicts between farmers and herders often hindered this.
He noted that the conflicts, often fuelled by competition for land, water, and resources, had led to loss of lives, destruction of property and displacement of communities.
He said farmers and herdsmen were not supposed to be enemies but partners in the pursuit of food security, sustainable development, and
He called for establishing a farmers-herdsmen dialogue forum to facilitate regular meetings and negotiations between both groups.
In a paper delivered at the event, Pro Daniel Nte Ngboaraji affirmed that the best way to minimise the herders and farmers’ crisis was to identify real herders from criminally minded ones to hand the bad ones over to security operatives.
Representatives of the State Commissioner of Police, Department of State Service (DSS), Presidents-General of Kingdoms, Clans and Communities, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, and other stakeholders attended the conference.
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