Kaduna State government has called for extensive research beyond the farmer-herders conflicts in order to identify the actual causes as well as find workable solutions to the menace.
Kaduna State Commissioner Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan made the call at a 2-day meeting with stakeholders on Farmer-Herder relations and banditry organised by Centre for Democracy and Development CDD in Kaduna.
According to him, the State is addressing some well documented security challenges such as youth restiveness, drug abuse, rape, armed robbery and ethno-religious intolerance.
He said challenges currently bedevilling most States in the North-West are the issue of farmer-herder clashes, homicide, kidnapping and collapse of the rural economy.
He further stated that, since the inception of the present administration in 2015, its position on the farmer-herder collision has been clear and unambiguous.
“Government’s appeal has been for all residents to have recourse to the law. If a farmer in the course of farming comes under attack or crops are destroyed, the admonition is to have recourse to the law”.
“The same appeal applies to the herders who in the course of grazing are attacked or their cattle rustled or they become victims of any security challenge”.
Aruwan however lamented that, unfortunately, most of individuals and communities involved in these clashes often choose self help rather than the law. “This complicates the conflict and worsens the bloodshed”.
He also noted that the media narrative is often not helpful when armed bandits kill innocent herders and farmers while attempting to kidnap for ransom. Some media report that, it is an attack by herdsmen, thereby inflaming the violence between pastoralists and their hosts.
The Commissioner tasked media and commentators on the need to research deeply and not just skim through present security challenges with emotions, sentiment, prejudices and biases.
Earlier, in her welcome address CDD Director, Idayat Hassana reiterated the centre’s commitment in partnering with the state government and various stakeholders in addressing insecurity in the Country.
Hassan, who was represented at the event by Shamsudeen Yusuf, Principal programmes officer, CDD disclosed that the meeting was conceived as a starting point to address insecurity and also on area to leverage the challenges.
He said the meeting which comprises of security Agencies, traditional and religious leaders was to proffer solutions on issues around security, farmer herders relations and banditry.
On his part, the representative of United State Institute for Peace (USIP), Mr Chris Kwaja commended the centre for the initiative and engagement and also people of Kaduna state for their resilient in keeping peace alive.
He also emphasised the need to give peace a chance for better development while calling for more collaboration to make things better.
Nnenna.O
