TheNewsGuru

Tag: Clashes

  • Buhari has clear plans to end herders/farmers clashes – El-Rufai

    Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, said on Monday that the federal government has very clear plans to end herders/farmers clashes in the country.

    The governor told newsmen after laying wreath to mark the Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Kaduna that the issue is being tackled head-on.

    “We met with the Minister of Interior, there are very clear plans to curtail these issues, I don’t want to speak about security programmes on radio and television, but I want to assure everyone, the President and other security agencies are doing their best.’’

    He noted that security is a continuous challenge in every society and the involvements of the military have helped to stabilize the country including parts of Kaduna state.

    Mr. El-Rufa’i stressed that the recent donation of $1 billion from Excess Crude Account by state governors were for the purchase military equipment to support the armed forces in securing the country.

    “The Nigerian armed forces have contributed significantly to the development of the country in maintaining unity and integration, and in protecting the lives of citizens and controlling security challenges.

    “For this, all of us are grateful to them, they have made great sacrifices and at various forms of crisis, they have stepped in for the sovereignty of the country; we are eternally grateful to them,’’ the governor added.

    NAN reports that apart from parade and laying of wreath to honour the falling heroes, El-Rufa’i also released white pigeons at the event.

     

    (NAN)

  • Herdsmen/farmers clashes: Why we are proposing cattle colonies – FG

    The Federal Government has explained the reason for its planned establishment of cattle colonies, saying it is a measure to quickly curb the incessant bloody clashes between farmers and herdsmen.

    Chief Audu Ogbeh, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said this when Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau visited him in Abuja.

    Mr Tolu Makinde, the Director, Information, said this on Thursday in a statement by Mrs Oluwakemi Ogunmakinwa.

    The minister noted that the policy would not transfer communal land ownership to herdsmen wherever it was established.

    Ogbeh was reacting to fears by some citizens that the policy was an attempt by the Federal Government to forcibly collect land from citizens and hand them over to herdsmen.

    He noted that there was no truth in speculations that the government was conspiring to grant supremacy over communal land to herdsmen.

    The minister commended the Plateau Government for its interests in developing agriculture.

    “Cattle colony is not using herdsmen to colonise any state. It is going to be done in partnership with state governments that will like to volunteer land for it.

    “The Federal Government will fund the project and those wishing to benefit from it will pay some fees.

    “While ranching is more of an individual venture for the herdsmen and those wishing to invest in the livestock sector, cattle colonies is a larger project where up to 40 ranchers can share same facility that will be provided by the government at a reduced rate.

    “Already, 16 states have volunteered land,’’ he said.

    The minister said the Federal Government would soon hold a stakeholders’ forum with the herdsmen and other stakeholders on the implementation of the new policy.

    Earlier, Lalong said that he was at the ministry to understand the new policy.

    He said that the state would key into the policy to maintain peace in the state.

    “I happen to be one of the persons that keyed into the ranching policy when it was introduced.

    ‘‘We saw some lands in Plateau and we provided them for the implementation of the policy.

    “The introduction of this policy is of interest to us, that is why we are always here.

    “We also heard about the introduction of another one, that is the cattle colony and I said let me still come back again. We will also key into this policy,’’ he said.

    Recall that Ogbeh had on January 8, disclosed the Federal Government’s plan to establish cattle colonies in the country.

     

     

  • Senate investigates clashes between Nigeria, Cameroon communities

    The Senate has mandated its committees on Police Affairs and National Security to investigate clashes between border communities in Nigeria and Cameroon, which has claimed lives and property of Nigerians.

    The resolution to this effect emanated from a point of order raised by Sen. John Enoh (APC-Cross River) during plenary on Thursday.

    Enoh said that it was Federal Government’s duty to protect its citizens from internal and external aggression, lamenting that affected people from his political jurisdiction had been abandoned to attacks from Cameroonian aggressors.

    He said, “I rise to call attention to a dire and serious security situation that is occurring in my senatorial district between the communities in Cross River and communities in Cameroon.

    “This crisis has taken international dimension. The porous nature of our borders, especially at that particular axis, is a great concern.

    “The main reason why government exists is to protect people’s lives and property; I, therefore, call on Nigerian authorities to increase security presence because there is still rising tension in that part of the country.”

    The lawmaker also urged the security agencies to see how much help they could provide to ensure that people in that area were protected.

    In his remark, President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, stressed that it was the responsibility of government to provide adequate security at the borders and also ensure safety and security of the citizenry in the country.

    He, therefore, referred the matter to the Committees on Police Affairs and National Security, mandating them to carry out a thorough job on the conflict and report back to the chamber.

     

    NAN