The Nasarawa State Government says community leaders would now be held responsible for crises between farmers and herders in their domain.
The State’s Deputy Governor, Emmanuel Akabe disclosed this shortly after a security meeting called by the government, as a result of renewed clashes between farmers and herders in Doma Local Government of the state.
Doma is a local government located in the southern zone of Nasarawa State.
Some communities in this area border the neighbouring Benue state.
Among these communities are Gidan Rai, Ajumaka, Idadu, Rukubi, and Angwan Idasho.
These communities are predominantly occupied by farmers of Tiv extraction, herders of Fulani origin and other tribes.
Unfortunately, these communities have become hotbeds for farmer-herder clashes, largely due to the anti-open grazing law in Benue state.
The most recent of these crises was the alleged killing of two herders by suspected farmers in Angwan Idasho, a borderline community with Benue state.
This led to reprisal attacks from the herders, leading to the destruction of crops and displacement of hundreds of farmers from their ancestral homes.
The renewed hostility prompted the state government and security chiefs to embark on a journey to Idadu to seek possible solutions to the conflict.
The Nasarawa State Government is seeking peace and is prepared to sanction any community leader who allows crises to occur in his area.
Traditional authorities, like the state government, are working on ways to promote peace in their domains.
