NSCDC holds farmers, herders peace meeting in Yobe

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Yobe Command, has organised a peace meeting between farmers and herders in Damaturu on Thursday.

The Commandant of the Corps, Mr Adamu Zakari, said the meeting was aimed at addressing the lingering conflicts between the two groups, which often lead to destruction of farms and loss of lives.

Zakari said the meeting was the first of its kind in the zone, adding that similar meetings would be organised in the remaining two senatorial zones of the state.

He noted that there were about 60 cases of farmer-herder clashes in the state from January to August 2023, but the command was able to mediate and resolve many of them.

The commandant commended the cooperation of other security agencies and journalists in the state.

The Security Adviser to Gov Mai Mala Buni on security matters, Brig.-Gen. Dahiru Abdussallam (Rtd), said most people were unaware of the Agro Ranger Unit of the NSCDC.

He said the forum was an opportunity to sensitise the public about the existence of the unit, so that conflicts between farmers and herders could be directed to the unit instead of the military, police or vigilante.

The State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Haruna Adamu, expressed optimism that the forum would be a good venue to iron out issues and settle conflicts between farmers and herders.

He noted that clashes between the two groups had reduced drastically in the state due to good understanding between them.