Niger State Govt.is making significant progress in reducing conflicts between farmers and herders – Rebe
Yahaya Zakka.
The Commissioner for Nomadic and Pastoral Affairs, Alhaji Umar Rebe, announced that the number of farmer/herder clashes has decreased to its lowest level in the state.
He stated this during a quarterly media briefing organized by the Ministry of Information and Orientation in Minna.
Rebe attributed this success to the inclusive governance approach adopted by the current administration, which involves identifying pastoralists and providing them with essential social amenities and employment opportunities.
He further explained, “We now possess comprehensive data on pastoralists within the state, and we are working with security agencies to profile individuals from other states to prevent future crises.”
Rebe also mentioned that committees have been established and ongoing advocacy efforts are in place to reinforce progress in managing farmer/herder conflicts.
Additionally, Superintendent of Police Wasiu Abiodun, representing the Niger State Police Command and speaking on behalf of Commissioner of Police C.P. Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, stated that security agencies continue to fight banditry and other criminal activities within the state.
He noted that bandits often enter the state through border areas shared with Niger State and that collaborative efforts are increasing to address this threat.
Regarding farmer/herder conflicts, the police have formed local government-level committees across all 25 local government areas, including relevant stakeholders, to serve as preventive and proactive measures.
These committees aim to resolve issues peacefully and foster understanding between farmers and herders. The police are also partnering with the Ministry of Information and Orientation to educate the public on non-violent conflict resolution methods.
