Herdsmen/Farmers violence: Shehu Sani calls for security confab

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By; Alex Uangbaoje, Kaduna
Senator Shehu Sani, Representing Kaduna Central Senatorial Zone has called on the Federal ‎Government to as a matter of urgency convoke a National Security Conference to address the lingering Herdsmen, Farmers and Communities violence in Nigeria.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Kaduna, the Senator ‎harped on the need for the Federal Government to bring all the stakeholders in the country together to urgently resolve the crisis.
He said there is the “need for the Federal Government to urgently  convoke a national security conference to address the spiraling Herdsmen-Farming Communities violence; the summit should include representatives from Miyetti Allah Fulani Association, Association of Nigerian Farmers, Federal and state ministries of Agriculture, Federal and states ministries of environment,security agencies, traditional rulers, ACF, Afenifere,Ohaneze,Middle Belts groups,representatives of communities along grazing routes, Nigeria Immigration Service and representatives from states and federal parliaments.”
According to him, “the summit should aim at proffering short and long term solutions to the incessant violence and killings and rustling activities attributed to some Herdsmen.
“The Summit should unfold a lasting socio economic, security and ecological solutions to the crisis.”
Sani recommended that there is “the need to immediately set up seven grazing reserves in the states of Niger, Nasarawa, Kogi, Adamawa, Bauchi, Kaduna and Sokoto; this will significantly  stem the movements of Herdsmen southwards and drastically curtail the incidence of violent clashes.
“The grazing reserves should be jointly managed by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, National Livestock,Universities of Agriculture and leadership of the Miyetti Allah cattle breeders Association.”
The Senator further stated that “there’s an immediate need to set up a National Joint Task force on Cattle Traffic Movement, (NATFOC); This task force made up of the Police, Army, Civil Defence, DSS, Customs, Immigration and Nigeria Satellite Telecommunications Commission should be mandated to monitor, trail and track the movements of Herdsmen, using both modern technology and other means of communication to ensure Herdsmen operate within the confines of the law and their cattles and  also farm settlement are well protected. NATFOC should also be mandated to disarm all Herdsmen.”
He emphasised the need to document and register and issue identification cards to Herdsmen; “Federal Government through the Federal and States Ministries of Agriculture and the Cattle Breeders Association need to embark on a national registration exercise and issuance of valid identification for Herdsmen.
“This will stem the activities of violent criminals who masquerade as Herdsmen to unleash violence against innocent and vulnerable communities on their path.
He also advocated for “the need to engage the ECOWAS member nations and Central African nations in the drive to end the menace of Herdsmen violence.”

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