From Saka Bolaji, Minna
Immediate past Military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar yesterday said solutions 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 required all hands to be on deck, especially those of well-meaning individuals in the country.
He proffered this solution 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, Mr. Godwin Emefiele at his Maizube Farms on the outskirts of Minna, Niger State capital.
Abubakar hinged the escalation of clashes on the increase rate of urbanisation and the attendant reduction in availability of grazing land for livestock.
His words: “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 animals need grazing field and water points but the rapid rate of urbanisation has grossly affected this,” the General noted.
He however called on the government at all levels to provide grazing reserves with adequate water points to stem down the face off, destruction and un-wanton killing 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 military leader had earlier told Ogbeh that clashes between farmers and herdsmen had never been limited to Nigeria, saying, “it occurs in virtually all the countries in West Africa”.
Ogbeh disclosed that his ministry was perfecting the use of Cassava leaves which abound in the country as feeds for cows as part of efforts to mitigate the crisis.
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