Kano State Police Command has taken a move by engaging community members and stakeholders to resolve 40-year-old farmers and herders clashes in Makoda Local Government Area of the state.
The command convened a stakeholders roundtable meeting to discuss and strategise on solutions towards the recent escalation of conflicts between farmers and local herders in the LGA.
The meeting which brought together government officials, traditional rulers, religious leaders, security agencies, and the affected parties and key community leaders including the Emir of Bichi, the Chairman of Makoda LGA, and the district heads of Makoda and Kunchi is aimed to foster understanding, dialogue, and cooperation towards finding sustainable resolutions to the challenges facing the region for over 40 years.
According to the spokesman of the command, Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, during the interactive session, both sides’ participants identified the root causes of the conflicts, highlighted the underlying tensions and explored possible avenues for peaceful coexistence and conflict resolution. Emphasis was also placed on the need for the promotion of mutual respect, tolerance, and adherence to provincial laws and regulations towards preventing further escalations of violence and nipping it in the bud once and for all.
The Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Usaini Gumel, who was represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operation, DCP Umar Ahmed Chuso, presided over the meeting and assured all stakeholders of the police command’s commitment to maintaining law and order, protecting lives and property, and fostering harmony within the community. He also underscored the importance of collaboration, information sharing, and proactive measures in addressing the complex dynamics of farmer-herder conflicts.
In her remarks, the Special Assistant to the Governor of Kano State, Maimuna Umar Sheriff, stated that the state government will take appropriate actions to end the farmers/herders’ clashes in and beyond Makoda LGA.
Similarly, the acting chairman of Makoda LGA, Alhaji Mohammad Umar Gwale, restates the commitment of the local government area to finding lasting solutions while the stakeholders agreed to cooperate with security agencies and establish a joint committee that will oversee ongoing dialogue, implementation of conflict mitigation strategies, and continuous engagement with relevant stakeholders.
The committee will work with the state and local governments towards promoting sustainable peace, enhancing security, and fostering social cohesion in Makoda LGA and beyond.
