HERDSMEN-FARMERS CLASHES: Northern governors, Miyetti Allah meet

The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) has held a meeting with the national leadership and state chapters of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), as part of efforts to resolve the continued clashes between herders and farmers across the nation.

The meeting, which held in Sokoto, had in attendance NSGF chairman and Borno Governor, Kashim Shettima; host governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and their counterparts from Kano (Abdullahi Ganduje), and Kaduna (Nasir El-Rufai).

Though no formal communique was issued at the end of the meeting, some reports indicate that the gathering discussed the origins of the crisis, efforts to contain it and how to find a permanent solution.

In his opening remarks, Governor Shettima said the 19 northern states were worried by the rising cases of insecurity involving herder and farmers, and expressed optimism that their intervention will help in finding lasting solution to the conflicts.

He said the governors were intervening in order to complement efforts of the Federal Government, adding that they hoped to adopt, ‘local conflict resolution mechanism’ to restore trust and understanding among all the people of the region.

“We have seen enough crises in the North East with Boko Haram. We cannot afford to let any other conflict linger without a solution.

“We hope to hear from all sides and finally come up with a workable plan that will restore confidence and entrench lasting peace in our region,” he added.

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Revealing the position of MACBAN, Punch cited a source at the meeting as saying, “The leadership of Miyetti Allah, led by its National President, Muhammed Kirowa, told the meeting that the approach to conflict resolution adopted by political leaders in some states has not been helpful in finding lasting peace.

“In his view, political leaders, especially governors, should approach issues of peace in neutral perspective, not as biased party.

“He said their members have lived in many of these conflict-prone communities for centuries without conflict, but wondered why the situation is getting out of hand now,” the source added.

There are reports indicating that even though no resolution was reached at the Sokoto meeting, a new round of discussion will be scheduled to take place in Abuja, Jos, Makurdi and Kaduna.

 

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