Nigeria to establish ranches for herdsmen to prevent clashes – Governor Lalong

President Muhammadu Buhari and the state governors have agreed that ranches should be established to address incessant farmers/herdsmen clashes instead of grazing reserves, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau, has disclosed.

Mr. Lalong, who made the disclosure on Sunday in Jos at the dedication of the new headquarters of Evangelical Church Winning All, ECWA, said that grazing reserves would not address the clashes and the killings.

About 200 people were killed in one of the recent clashes between herdsmen and their host communities in Agatu, Benue State.

“The President and governors agreed that there would be no grazing areas; ranches would be established by government where the cattle would be kept in one place and fed.

“Government will provide facilities like medical, schools and other needs in the ranches,” he said.

Mr. Lalong said that the ranches would not be for Fulani herdsmen alone but for whomever rears cattle.

He said that the Buhari administration inherited myriads of problems, saying that herdsmen/farmers clashes was just one of such problems and urged the people to be patient.

He urged Plateau citizens to pray for the state and the Federal Government as all the problems could not be solved in one year.

Also speaking, the Senator representing Plateau South, Jeremiah Useni, said that delegates at the 2014 National Conference agreed that grazing reserves should be a state affair, not federal.

He said that it would be difficult for farmers to support the establishment of grazing areas as they would not donate their farms for grazing purposes.

In his sermon, Anthony Farinto, former ECWA President, called on leaders at all levels to urgently address the difficulties Nigerians were going through.

The cleric, who condemned the recent killing of a military official, urged the Federal Government to do all within its power to address the security challenges facing the country.

“If a serving Colonel could be kidnapped and killed, it portends serious danger for the country,” he said.

The Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Bala Bantex, attended the service.

(NAN)