Farmers/Herders’ Conflicts: Taraba LG Boss Decries Influx of Herders
OKERAFOR ATHANATIUS, JALINGO
The Chairman of Gashaka local government area of Taraba State, Hon. Umar Yusuf has decried influx of herders to the area, describing it as the immediate and major cause of herders/farmers conflicts in the area.
Hon. Yusuf, who spoke to Reporters in Jalingo, the State capital explained that foreign herders enter Gashaka local government area alongside thousands of their cows with negative intentions of causing destruction to farmers’ crops.
He said, herdsmen living with the people at various communities do co-exist peacefully with the farmers but regretted that herders who pose threats and cause problems are those coming from outside the area with their cows.
“In terms of security issues, the major causes of conflicts among herders and farmers are herders coming from outside, we have been confronting them and we swore not to stop until we curtail their activities on our various Council areas”.
“I want say it again that herdsmen living with us are co-existing peacefully with our farmers but the problems we are having are those coming from outside with their cows”.
“These herders coming in with their cows, come with different attitudes, they don’t even listen to people, they used to come with rudeness, fighting with our people and destroying their farms”.
“That is the greatest problem we used to encounter”, the chairman confessed.
Hon. Yusuf said as the Chairman of the Council, his first priority is to make sure that the people remain peaceful, adding that the security and protection of lives and property of the people are his major concern.
The council boss, who also described security as one of Governor Agbu Kefas’ five point agenda, pointed out that Dr. Kefas on assumption of office as Governor gave the security operatives a marching order to reduce security challenges to the barest minimum.
In swift reaction, the security agencies in collaboration with the critical Stakeholders of the local government areas swung into action and such has today, yielded fruitful results.
“The local government area is now peaceful and calm and farmers have gone to their farms without molestation”.
“I want to thank God and also thank our Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas and the Emir of Gashaka HRH, Alh. (Dr.)
Zubairu Hamman Gabdo for their tireless cooperation that brought about the peaceful co-existence we are enjoying today”, he said.
