NSCDC calls for peaceful coexistence between farmers, herders

The Kwara Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has called for peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders in the state.

This appeal is contained in a statement issued by the command's spokesman, Mr Babawale Afolabi and made available to newsmen on Sunday in Ilorin.

Afolabi said that an appeal had been sent to the royal fathers and community heads in the state, urging them to work towards a peaceful coexistence between farmers and herdsmen in their various communities.

He said that the appeal was intended to put an end to the incessant farmers and herders clashes in the state.

The NSCD spokesman said that the command made the appeal, while reacting to the two separate Fulani/farmers bloody clashes recorded in Alapa and Patigi areas of Asa and Edu Local Government Areas, respectively.

He said that the State Commandant, Makinde Ayinla frowned at the geometrical rate of Fulani and herders clashes in some of the communities.

Afolabi said that efforts were ongoing by the command to meet the royal fathers and village heads in order to find lasting solution to the crises.

"It will be recalled that on Jan. 7, one Mohammed Aliu, 42, of Tankpafu Village reported how Fulani herdsmen stormed his farm and uprooted his cassava plants to feed their cattle.

"Also, on Jan. 8, there was a bloody clash between a farmer and a Fulani herder, in which both of them sustained serious machete injuries," he said.

The command's spokesman added that the number of security operatives had been increased in the crisis-prone communities.

He said that there would soon be a stakeholders forum to be made up of representatives of the village heads, Fulani herders, farmers and the security agencies to find lasting solution to the crises.