The Federal government has revealed it would no longer impose creation of cattle colonies on states across the country.
According to a report by the 10-man working committee constituted few days ago by the National Economic Council to address the issue of herdsmen/farmers’ clash, it was decided that every state should come up with suggestions in order to proffer solutions to the problem in their various states.
The report revealed that the committee proposed that the states should come up with the solutions after a rigorous consultative process with all stakeholders.
The committee, headed by the Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, comprises the governors of Adamawa, Benue, Ebonyi, Edo, Kaduna, Oyo, Plateau and Zamfara states.
The report quoted an unnamed presidency official saying that the committee had resolved that the Federal Government would not impose any solution on any states.
The official, who craved anonymity, said Osinbajo, stated in one of its recent meetings that fears being expressed on the cattle colonies proposed to establish by the Federal Government were misplaced.
He said the committee also resolved to work with the Federal Government to strengthen law enforcement agencies as well as all security and intelligence agencies so that they could coordinate better in dealing with the crisis and preventing it from further escalation.
He said the committee also decided that decisive military force be fully engaged to deal with bandits who are behind the killings in parts of the country especially regarding the crisis often associated with herdsmen.
“The role of bandits and suspected mercenaries in what has become known as herdsmen/farmers clashes and violence may have provoked the need for a fresh approach to dealing with the crisis,” the official was quoted as saying.
He also said that the military was already engaged and would soon begin to take necessary steps to address the situation.
He said the police and other security agencies had also been directed to recruit more rank and file to beef up security in the troubled spots in particular and the country in general.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari, has directed all security agencies in the country to tackle the proliferation of small arms and light weapons across the country.
The president gave the directive last Thursday, at the National Security Council Meeting which he chaired in the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock, Abuja.
Speaking at the event, Buhari, assured Nigerians that his government is doing everything possible to stem the tide of violence recorded frequently across the country.
Source: Tribune News
