Herdsmen: There Are Threats Of Reprisals In The North – Northern Governors

The Northern States’ Governors Forum has remarked that there are already threats of reprisals in the North over the ongoing eviction notices given to Fulani herdsmen in the South, adding that the forum is working hard to contain such threats.

The forum noted that it had resolved to “urgently meet” to discuss the issue holistically and take an objective look at the sources of conflicts between herdsmen and the southern communities.

The NGF submitted that the current system of herding conducted mainly through open grazing was no longer sustainable in view of the growing urbanization and large populations of the country.

- Advertisement -

The forum reached these conclusions during its emergency meeting held virtually to discuss issues affecting the region – a meeting presided over by its Chairman and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong.

The forum also said that it would drive at sensitizing the herdsmen on the need to m to practice modern methods of herding.

- Advertisement -

READ MORE: Boko Haram: Don’t grant amnesty, eliminate them all – MOSIEND

In light of these decisions, the governors have therefore urged the Nigerian government to support states with grants to directly undertake maiden projects of modernity in livestock production. According to them, doing so will help springboard the full implementation of these new methods of livestock production by the herders.

According to Daily Trust, the forum expressed concerns over the tension generated by the eviction order issued to herdsmen in other parts of the country. The threats and evictions are seen to be weighing in on the already delicate security situation in the country.

According to the forum, there were already ‘threats of reprisals” which the governors have been working to contain.

The governors called for restraint from leaders, including those in the Southern parts of the country where self-determination activism is running high.

READ ALSO: Suspected ‘Yahoo boys’ protest arrest by EFCC 

Similarly, they called on all the “citizens of the North to continue to live in peace with all Nigerians irrespective of their origins and backgrounds”.

Also, they urged political leaders to segregate between criminality and social groups in their domains with a view to treating criminals like criminals. They condemned every form of “criminality whether from herders, hunters, or farmers occupying forest reserves illegally”.

A resolution was also reached to engage elders and youths in a robust discussion in order to douse the tension in the North, and a four-man committee was set up in that respect to be headed by the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum.