The Kwara State Government has called for mutual understanding and cooperation between herders and farming communities to address the persistent tensions and conflicts affecting agricultural productivity in the state.
Speaking at a one-day peace dialogue organized by Search for Common Ground Media at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Ilorin on Friday, the Director of Livestock Services at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Muhammed Ahmed Umar, emphasized the importance of dialogue in resolving long-standing disputes.
Umar revealed that the state government has commissioned a consultant to identify former grazing zones now encroached upon by buildings and farmlands. The findings, he said, will guide the creation of new or alternative grazing areas to ensure herders can move their livestock freely and peacefully conduct their business.
“We must foster a sense of brotherhood and mutual respect between herders and farmers. Our shared goal is food security and economic growth, and that can only be achieved in an atmosphere of peace,” he said.
He noted that the discussion during the dialogue was enlightening and would contribute to developing practical and lasting solutions to the recurring clashes. Umar also expressed concern that, beyond the herder-farmer tensions, general insecurity and banditry had further displaced many farmers from their land.
In his remarks, Adekitan Adeyemi, the Kwara State Coordinator for Search for Common Ground, underscored the importance of peace for the socio-economic development of communities and the nation as a whole.
Also speaking at the event, Alfa Saeed Atonto, a representative of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Kwara State chapter, lamented that underage herders often struggle to control their livestock, resulting in the destruction of crops.
He urged herders and livestock owners to take responsibility and work with farmers to prevent such incidents. “We are all brothers. Let’s not allow misunderstandings to divide us,” he appealed.
On his part, Alhaji Garba Shehu, Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Kwara State, expressed concern over the high compensation fees sometimes demanded by farmers when cattle stray into farmlands.
“Farmers should be more considerate. We are all stakeholders in the agricultural value chain and must learn to resolve issues amicably,” he said.
Adding a gendered perspective, Hajia Usman Zainab, a women leader, decried the growing hostility between the two communities. She urged both sides to break the cycle of mistrust and foster unity.
“It is unfortunate that farmers now see herders as enemies. We live in the same communities; we must learn to coexist peacefully,” she stressed.
The dialogue concluded with a shared commitment from participants to work together in promoting peace, tolerance, and sustainable agricultural practices for the benefit of all.
