The Federal government yesterday met six state governors and heads of security agencies over the continuous crisis between herdsmen and farmers in some states of the federation.

 

Hundreds of people, including women and children, have been killed in repeated clashes in at least six states.

 

The latest clashes in Benue, Taraba, Adamawa and Kaduna as well as deadly gang violence in Rivers State had put the nation on edge necessitating yesterday’s meeting.

 

Governors present at the meeting were Nasiru Ahmed El-Rufai (Kaduna), Darius Ishaku (Taraba), Tanko Al’makura (Nasarawa), Samuel Ortom (Benue) Mohammed Jibrilla (Adamawa), and Abubakar Bello (Niger).

 

The ministers in attendance were Chief Audu Ogbeh, Agriculture and Rural Development and his Permanent Secretary, Dr Bukar Hassan and the Minister of Interior, Lt Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (rtd).

 

Heads of security agencies at the meeting included the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Abdullahi Gana Mohammadu, Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and Director General, Department of Security Services, Lawal Daura.

 

The meeting, which held at the Ministry of Interior, lasted over five hours.

 

Daily Trust gathered from a source that debate over ranching laws passed by the governors of Benue and Taraba was the most contentious during the meeting.

 

The source, who prefers not to be named, told Daily Trust that a particular governor faulted the legality of the law, noting that it could be challenged in court and could in the long run be overturned.

 

The meeting discussed strategies and measures to end the crisis rocking the states in which hundreds of people have lost their lives.

 

The minister of interior, while speaking earlier before the meeting went into a closed door session, condemned the recent spate of killings involving farmers and herdsmen especially in Taraba and Benue states.

 

Dambazau said this must stop, warning that government would not tolerate insecurity in any part of the country.

 

He said “the current situation is very bad for the North and Nigeria in general”, adding that it will result to food insecurity in the country if not quickly dealt with.

 

Daily Trust

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