The interfaith Mediation Center, IMC, Kaduna, has called on the government at all levels to urgently take proactive measures to intervene on the frequent crisis between farmers and herders in the country.
The group says this is to avoid further loss of lives and destruction of properties.
The group noted that lives have been lost and property of unimaginable magnitude has been destroyed as a result of incessant farmers/herders clashes thereby drawing the country backward in all spheres of life.
This is contained in a statement issued and signed by the Co-Executive Directors, Kaduna State Interfaith Mediation Centre, Pastor Dr. James Movel Wuye & Imam Dr. Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa at the end of the monthly round table meeting with media executives.
The group lamented that the persistent farmer and header conflicts in parts of the country have greatly led to the backwardness of the nation’s economy and total distrust between farmers and herders.
The meeting called on practicing journalists to fully investigate the conflict between farmers and headers with a view of tracing the history of the conflict to proffer lasting peace and understanding among Nigerians.
“In some instances, some selfish politicians in the country because of their selfish and evil motives cause the farmers/headers conflicts in order to gain cheap popularity for the purpose of winning elections at the detriment of innocent souls,” participants at the meeting observed.
They advocated for security men to rise to their duties to mediate between farmers and headers for the purpose of curtailing the spread of the conflict to other communities and the sustenance of peaceful coexistence among Nigerians.
“Farmers should not take the law into their hand whenever headers encroach into their farms while herders should try to avoid encroaching into farmlands but in any case, the party concern should quickly report to the authorities concerned for possible action,” the statement explained.
On the recent increase of rape cases in the country, the meeting lamented the high level of rape cases in Nigeria and called on the authorities concerned to take positive action to end the menace in the country.
They expressed delight in the reduction of kidnapping during the lockdown and called on security agencies to redouble their efforts in tracking all criminal elements in all parts of the country for people to go about their legitimate businesses.
