Gombe seeks end to herders, farmers clash
Chima Azubuike, Gombe
Farmers, herders conflict resolution committee in Gombe State, on Friday held interactive meeting with leadership of Miyetti Allah and farmers towards a rancour free harvest season.
The state committee, led by commissioner for agriculture and animal husbandry, Mohammed Getado with his counterparts in the local government and chieftaincy affairs and that of the internal security and ethnical orientation: Ibrahim Jalo Waziri and Dauda Batari respectively discussed with the concerned on the importance of peace and tolerance.
Getado lamented that the state government is threatened by the yearly friction between farmers and herders across the country, hence the formation of the committee.
He however pleaded with the media to be weary of the likely danger unverified stories could cause the society, pleading for the cooperation of media practitioners in the state.
He said, “it has been discovered that most crises are engineered and fueled by journalists peddling fake news. Media will do our young state good by reporting us justly and even when they must report crises, we plead that they confirm such ”
According to him, “there has never been major crises between farmers and herders in the state since 1960 the committee was constitutionally set up but it baffles me when it was peddled that two farmers were recently killed by herders.
“This is not only a fake news but also unfounded because we asked around only to discovered that it was not true.
“We have realised that little can the state achieved without the support of the media, hence our plea that we be partners in progress not there n destruction,” he sought.
On his part, the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Ibrahim Waziri explained that “the committee is to sensitise and monitor the activities of our people and to resolve whatever issues so as to ensure peace and harmony between farmers and herders which we see virtually every year.
“Today’s meeting is interaction after which we will call the two groups – farmers and herders leadership across the state for interaction to tell them what we expect for coexistence.”
Adding that the parley was necessary considering the timing, “this is the time farmers harvest their produce. Within this period, there are bound to be movements of herders across the country and this part of the country.
“This committee is to ensure that those problems are prevented before they occur,” he said.
