From David Hassan, Gombe
As the rainy season commences, the Gombe State Police Command has stepped up efforts to broker a lasting peace and prevent seasonal clashes between farmers and herders in the state.
The Commissioner of Police, Gombe State Command, CP Umar Ahmed Chuso, convened a critical stakeholders’ meeting with representatives of both groups at the Police Headquarters in Gombe.
The initiative is aimed at resolving lingering differences and fostering mutual understanding before the farming season gets fully underway.
Addressing the gathering, CP Chuso assured the stakeholders that the command is fully prepared to proactive deploy measures to defuse tensions and safeguard peace across agrarian communities.
He urged both farmers and herders to view themselves as partners in progress rather than adversaries, emphasizing that peaceful coexistence is vital for the state’s economic survival.
He said: “We shouldn’t allow this menace to overrun our society.
“There is every tendency that we can avert these occurrences and make things straight for the betterment of our livelihood.
“As citizens, let us love one another and work for the progress of the nation. With this, we will have a better tomorrow.”
During the interactive session, representatives of both the farming and herding communities shared their firsthand experiences, challenges, and past grievances.
Both sides collectively agreed to work closely with security agencies, pledging to utilize dialogue and established dispute-resolution channels rather than resorting to violence when conflicts arise over land use and grazing routes.
