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From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
As farmer-herder conflicts intensify, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has expressed its commitment to ending the bloody clashes.
The Commandant of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, Dr Olusola Odumosu, has reaffirmed the Corps’ unwavering commitment to peacebuilding, security, and stability across the territory, particularly in addressing farmer-herder conflicts.
Odumosu made this known during a courtesy visit by members of the Herders-Farmers Dispute Resolution Volunteers in Abuja.
The FCT boss emphasised that the security of lives and property of residents, as well as the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure in the territory, remains sacrosanct. He noted the need for improved partnerships with organisations such as the Dispute Resolution Volunteers and local communities for credible and timely intelligence gathering.
“As the lead agency in Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI) protection, the FCT is of particular concern to us because of the heavy presence of government infrastructure and public utilities that, if compromised, could affect national security.
“In addition, being the seat of power with a number of foreign missions and embassies, securing the city is a job that must be done and that is the reason we are intentional about improving partnership and collaboration with various communities and groups for improved intelligence gathering and policing,” he said.
In a statement, the FCT Commandant made reference to some avoidable conflicts in Kwali, Gwagwalada, and other Area Councils in the FCT which resulted in the loss of human lives and cattle, and he stressed the need for urgent preventive measures to curb such incidents.
He opined that for peace to be achieved between farmers and herders in the FCT, the Corps must avoid the “blame game”. Rather, it should put a mechanism in place to improve its sense of unity and promote national consciousness amongst those concerned for a vibrant agricultural sector.
“To achieve results, we must stop the blame game and avoid labelling any particular groups, ethnicity or tribes as the one engaging in violent crimes in Nigeria. Any person involved in criminal activities is an enemy of the state.
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“For us in NSCDC, we are determined not to allow them thrive or succeed but we will continue to build peaceful initiatives because that is what we stand for and we shall continue to deal decisively with those farmers or herders perpetrating crime amongst them,” he added.
The Commandant, however, stressed the need for peaceful coexistence, noting that there is no reason individuals or communities cannot live together in unity. He called for sustained advocacy, reorientation, and enlightenment at all levels to reinforce harmony between farmers and herders.
“We must continue to educate, enlighten and re-orientate our people to understand that peaceful co-existence is not only possible but necessary,” Odumosu stated.
He further assured the delegation of the Corps’ readiness to support their initiatives both strategically and operationally, noting that their objective aligns with the Corps’ mandate of preventing and resolving conflicts and maintaining internal security.
The Commandant noted that beyond physical security, farmer-herder conflicts also have serious implications for food security and economic stability, stressing the need for a comprehensive approach to addressing the issue.
He also emphasised the importance of early warning signals, intelligence gathering, and non-kinetic approaches in preventing crises before they escalate.
Earlier, the National Chairman of the Herders and Farmers Dispute Resolution Volunteers, Mustafa Suleiman, expressed appreciation to the Commandant for granting them an audience.
Suleiman noted that the initiative, which has been in existence since 2020, is focused on building peace between herders and farmers through dialogue and community engagement.
He lauded the vital role of the Corps in managing conflicts from the grassroots to the national level, noting that the command’s efforts remain critical in sustaining peace and security across communities.
