Herdsmen and farmers sign peace pact in Kaduna

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

In order to arrest the persistent crisis which has resulted in the death of scores in southern Kaduna, the Fulani herdsmen and farmers have signed a peace pact that will ensure that the problems is immediately solved.

The peace pact, which was facilitated by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) Michael Zuokumor saw leaders of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Mobgal Fulfude Development Association and Southern Kaduna Peoples Union, affirm their signatures to a 20 recommendation.

The recommendation calls for the establishment of Peace and Reconciliation Commission by the state government, close monitoring of people by the government, in collaboration with the traditional and other relevant agencies.

The parties, who signed the pact also advised the government to reach out to all nomadic pastoralists and other internally-displaced persons for the purpose of giving them some palliative and encourage them to return to their original place of abode.

The forum emphasised the need to return to the traditional intelligent mechanism.

“Mobile Police and military units should be established in Kafanchan and Birnin Gwari for quick response to security challenges, Government at all levels should improve on security agency capabilities of

handling crisis by providing adequate logistics, community policing comprising of all ethnic groups should be set up to complement the efforts of security agencies.

“Government should complete the gazetting of all existing grazing reserves, stock routes and provide them with complete facilities.

The pastoralists should be encouraged to adopt modern animal husbandry techniques in place of roaming about with their livestock. All grazing reserves that have been encroached should be reclaimed while compensation be paid to original landowners.

“The youth should be sensitized on the need for self restraint and not to take law into their hands,” the statement added.