The Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has urged stakeholders to intensify efforts toward mitigating farmers/herders conflicts, warning that sustainable peace and economic growth depend on collective action.
State Commandant, Mr. Oluyemi Ibiloye, made the call during a stakeholder engagement and training on conflict mitigation held for Akure South and Akure North local governments.
The two-day programme, organised by Partners for Peace in the Niger Delta (P4P) in collaboration with the NSCDC, held on Friday in Akure.
Ibiloye, who commended P4P for its sustained interventions across the Niger Delta, noted that clashes between farmers and herders remain a nationwide challenge, stressing that security agencies cannot tackle the problem in isolation.
“Sustainable peace can only be achieved when each group, including farmers, herders, traditional rulers, community leaders, government agencies, civil society organisations and security operatives understand their role and commit to working together.
“As we are approaching the dry season, there is tendency that herders will start coming from the North towards the South, so we want to fashion ways to avoid intending conflicts between them.
“When peace is broken, farmlands are abandoned, markets are disrupted and families are thrown into economic hardship.
“Ultimately, the state’s agricultural output, food security and internally generated revenue suffer significantly,” he said.
P4P State Coordinator, Mrs Stella-Ikeokwu Nathaniel, said the initiative aligns with the organisation’s mandate to promote peaceful approaches to conflict resolution across communities.
“This the time for everyone to rise up and joins hands with the security agents to find a lasting solution to the clash between farmers and herders for the betterment of the country’s peace and development.
“Issues of insecurity should not be left in hands of security agents alone, every individual should be involved in peace, beginning with you and I,” Nathaniel said.
Senior Special Adviser on Security Matters to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Mr. Olugbega Atiba, applauded the NSCDC for its efforts in tracking kidnappers and securing forests in the state.
He assured that the state government would continue to support security agencies, describing farmers/herders clashes as one of Nigeria’s most pressing internal security threats.
Chairman of the Ondo State Farmers Congress, Mr. Abayomi Monilari, represented by Mr. Oni Temitope of Ifedore Local Government—welcomed the initiative, saying farmers face increasing dangers in the course of their work.
“Today, we hear that farmers are being kidnapped, another day, farmers are being killed or their farms destroyed by the herders and their cows.
“But with this stakeholders engagement, it will proffer reasonable solutions to the conflicts between the farmers and herders, especially in the state,” he said.