News Editor
The great Indian leader, Mahatma Ghandi said that, “an eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind”.
This quotation underscores the essential need for peaceful resolution of conflicts among human beings from Nigeria to Nicaragua, China to Canada.
Early in 2021, there were lots of issues between farmers and Fulani herdsmen, causing insecurity, loss of lives and properties and; increase in food prices in Kwara State, Nigeria.
Many observers agree that one Federal Government security agency that has been engaging in finding peaceful, yet successful resolutions to the numerous conflicts in the state is the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
On April 24, a case of mischief was reported at the NSCDC Divisional office at Banni by one Yusuf Igboona of Oke-Igbona against one Tijani Dogo, who resides in the area.
According to the complainant, cows belonging to the suspect grazed and destroyed his yam farm on Banni road worth ₦40,000.
He was able to catch one of the cows and took it to NSCDC Divisional headquarters at Banni.
The suspect was invited and upon interrogation he confessed to have committed the offence.
The complainant demanded for ₦40,000, but the suspect pleaded that he should be allowed to pay ₦25,000 which the complainant later agreed to accept.
Both parties departed without inflicting injuries or shedding human blood, as such a conflict that could have degenerated into an uncontrollable conflagration was
resolved peacefully.
Furthermore, the Agro Rangers Unit, an initiative of former Minister of Agriculture and rural development, Audu Ogbe is a unit under the NSCDC.
This strategic initiative is expected to forestall attacks on farms and boost farmers’ confidence to work on farms without fear of attack, thereby guaranteeing Federal Government’s avowed food security target.
The spokesman of NSCDC Kwara Command, Mr Babawale Afolabi said that the Agro Rangers Special Unit was created to protect farmlands and farmers against bandits.
Afolabi added that mediating in the recurring farmers and herders conflicts in the country is also part of duties of the rangers.
The spokesman asserts that security is paramount in every society, for peace and development.
He says, that is why the Kwara State NSCDC applies some methods as strategies to curb crimes and enforce peace and stability in the state.
As it is, NSCDC having reported many cases of insecurity in the state, especially in Kwara North, decides to take a bold step through sensitization campaigns, peaceful discussion and law enforcement.
The State Commandant of the NSCDC, Makinde Ayinla, said he had waded into the crisis between farmers and herders in the agro-allied industry in the state.
Ayinla said that a Stakeholders’ Forum was organized by the Corps in Ilorin, on June 25, on the causes, implications and solutions to the conflict between the two parties.
He said the command’s quest to critically analyze the issues, gave birth to the forum.
Ayinla said other social vices such as kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, insurgencies, cultism and cybercrimes were becoming alarming.
He announced that the command had intervened in 37 matters with regards to herders and farmers relationship in the state between March and June.
“The command recovered about 27 stolen cows, which were later released to their owners, and created cow-pathway in people’s farms.
“We also assisted a farmer to recover his stolen motorcycle, and had engagement with principal stakeholders, crop farmers and herders, in a roundtable discussion to ensure peace,” Ayinla said.
The Commandant assured all, of the commitment and readiness of NSCDC to keep protecting the Agro allied industry, and overcoming other security related challenges through the Agro-Rangers Unit.
He solicited the support, cooperation and contributions of stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the conflicts.
The coordinator of Tractors Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria, Kwara Chapter, Alhaji Muhammad Kudu says herders and farmers are brothers and should work together for mutual success.
Kudu said that patience and cooperation should be taken very seriously in their discussions, in order to achieve a positive result.
“I appeal to them, both the farmers and herders to work together to achieve security of lives and properties and also be their brothers’ keepers,” he said.
Alhaji Muhammad Gidado, representing the herdsmen also pleaded with the parties involved to live in peace and stop any form of misunderstanding.
The NSCDC further convened a stakeholders’ meeting on July 8 in Ilorin where farmers and herdsmen entered into an agreement to end conflicts between them.
Reading out the agreement, the NSCDC Commandant, Ayinla said that representatives of the two groups accepted to abide by the resolutions reached.
“At the end of the meeting, it was resolved that night grazing should be stopped, and that minors should not take cattle out for grazing without supervision.
“It was also resolved that sales of illicit drugs and substances should be stopped in herdsmen camps in the state,” he said.
Ayinla said that with the agreement, members of both groups resolved not to move around with dangerous weapons.
The Commandant stated that the parties resolved to hold regular meetings with the NSCDC to ensure lasting compliance with the agreement.
Ayinla assured residents and people of Kwara, of the Command’s commitment to the enthronement of peace and harmony between the two groups.
He stated that part of the command’s challenges was lack of patrol vehicles for effective response to emergency situations.
In another development, the Commandant, on Nov. 25, advised residents of the state to shun all forms of vices including rape and other gender-based violence.
Ayinla gave the advice during a sensitisation programme organised by the command’s human trafficking and illegal migration unit.
He appealed to residents to shun any disgraceful and criminal act that could drag the good image of the state into the mud.
“The rise in the cases of gender-based violence; such as rape, child abuse, violence against women, child trafficking, and other forms of criminal behavior should stop.
“NSCDC has initiated partnerships with organisations such as the International Federation of Women Lawyers, the National Human Rights Commission, and other human rights organisations to stem the menace.
The enlightenment programme saw the officials walking through some major roads in Ilorin metropolis, addressing the public, including members of National Union of Road Transport Workers and traders.
Without equivocation, if there are Nigerians that stand to benefit from the peaceful path taken by NSCDC in resolving Kwara’s security challenges, they are the people of the state first. (NANFeatures)
**If used, please credit the writer as well as News Agency of Nigeria
(NAN)
