Emmanuel Ukumba in Lafia
In a bid to resolve the lingering crisis between herdsmen and farmers
in Nasarawa State, Governor Tanko Al-Makura has ordered for the immediate evacuation of all the gazzeted grazing reserves dedicated for herdsmen but occupied by other people.
Al-Makura gave the order while addressing journalists shortly after receiving in audience the Presidential Sub-Committee on Herdsmen and Farmers Conflict, led by its Chairman and Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, in Lafia.
The governor said why it is important to resolve the lingering conflict was the issue of land that is there for grazing.
“We in Nasarawa State foresaw this problem. We have stated taking stock of history and data of our grazing reserves to find out those who have encroached upon them to move out to create more opportunities for farming and grazing,†he stated.
Al-Makura continued that he believed the evacuation of grazing reserves exercise the state was doing was to ensure that all the gazzeted grazing reserves that were dedicated for herdsmen must be evacuated by whoever that might have occupied them.
“Even if it is government agency that has built any structure, they must move out. People that have occupied them; whether they are communities, farmers, companies, we would have to get them out,†he vowed.
He therefore explained that the state has about seven grazing reserves measuring about 1,000 kilometres scattered across the state.
Therefore, Al-Makura suggested that the solutions that would stamp out once and for all the issue of farmers-herdsmen crisis in the country is to ensure that all the grazing reserves that have been earmarked for grazing are dedicated to the herders.
