This is part of efforts to reduce the clashes between herdsmen and communities in the state.
The meeting, which took place at the Unity Hall, Government House,
Asaba, had as its theme, ‘Fostering Peaceful Co-existence Between
Farmers, Host Communities and Herdsmen in Delta State’.
Governor Okowa, while declaring the event open, urged participants to
speak freely about the ways out of the quagmire to ensure a peaceful
state where the people can carry out their business activities without
fear.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr Alkali Usman, in his speech, called
for tolerance, cooperation, mutual respect and peaceful co-existence
among the people, groups and the local communities.
There was free flow of information from the stakeholders as they
spoke about likely suspects, causes of the attacks, their pains and
likely solutions.
In their responses, representatives of Miyetti Allah, Miyatti Allah
Kautu, Cattle Dealers Association and Cattle Breeders Association
suggested that they should be part of the local security to help fish
out the bad eggs among the cattle rearers.
The forum resolved that security agents need to be more proactive and
arrest anybody caught with arms and prosecute such persons. They agreed
that this will ensure that farmers and villagers move about freely
without fear of herdsmen attacks.
The State Governor who was the chief moderator, after listening to
all the suggestions from stakeholders, said that a committee would be
set up to look at all the positions stipulated at the forum in order to
find a lasting solution to the menace.
Present at the meeting were representatives of traditional rulers’
council, communities, farmers, local government council chairmen,
Miyetti Allah, Miyetti Allah Cattle Dealers Association, Cattle Breeders
Association, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Muslim leaders,
civil society organisations, the military, Police, Department of State
Security (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
as well as the Nigeria Immigration Service.
Source:
Channelstv