Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has disclosed that the state would neither ban grazing nor farming, even as he warned Fulani herdsmen and local farmers in the state to maintain the peace or face the wrath of the law.
In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to Edo State Governor, Peter Okhiria, on Monday, the Governor warned that clashes between farmers and herdsman may snowball into a national crisis if not properly managed.
Oshiomhole was quoted as saying this at a stakeholders’ meeting, which was convened to find lasting solutions to the clashes between the herdsmen and farmers in the state. He warned that if not properly managed, the crisis between herders and landowners “can escalate beyond what we can manage quietly.”
According to him, “Edo State Government will prosecute any rapist, any kidnapper, any rustler, who takes people’s cows. I think listening to all the stakeholders, whether royal fathers, farmers, Fulani herdsmen, everybody agreed that neither rape nor robbery, nor destruction of farms, nor rustling of cattle is acceptable.
“I think we are all committed to ensuring that we put an end to any of these practices so that all of us can continue to live together in peace, harmony and in security.
“In every conflict, you will find someone you can describe as the oppressor. Somebody might be blamed, but every conflict can be resolved if all the parties approach the solution with honest intentions and whatever agreement reached, we faithfully try to implement. That way, there will be peace.
“Like the migrant Fulani representative said, ‘you cannot decree a solution, but we can work towards a solution.’ And we have to use both carrot and stick approach.”
The Governor said the state would set up about 19 committees, one committee in each of the 18 Local Government Areas of the state to resolve the recurring clashes.
He explained that the panel would comprise: traditional rulers, farmers, community leaders, youth leaders and the representatives of Fulani herdsmen.
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