OYO POLICE COMMISSIONER HOLDS SECURITY MEETING WITH FARMERS, HERDERS

Penpushing further reports that, he reiterated that the essence of the meeting was to exchange ideas and look at the critical issues between the farmers and the herders, and to find solution to the conflict.

“There are conflict between the farmers and herders in Oyo State particularly area like Saki, Iseyin, Igboora where there is prepundence of farmers and herders conflict, there is mutual suspicious and longtime conflict between the farmers and the herders which are issues in the past that now transmit to present”

The police boss, however, urged both the farmers and herders to understand and tolerate themselves for peace to reign, adding that development can only take place in a peaceful coexistence.

Penpushing further reports,that the Special Assistance to the Oyo State Governor on Community Relations, Alhaji Abidemi Siyanbade in his remark said that a bill on grazing is presently before Governor Abiola Ajimobi which he is optimistic that it will be signed into law by the end of this month, and this will reduced the clash between the farmers and the herders in Oyo State.

“Hopefully, Grazing Control Bill will be signed into law by the end of this month, and immediately this bill is signed into law, it will drastically reduce the conflict between the farmers and herders”.

The Chairman of the Oyo State Farmers Association, represented by Chief Adeniyi Moses  urged the State Government to speedily pass the Grazing Control Bill into law to resolve the conflict between them and the herders.

“We want the government to fulfilled their promise by passing this bill into law, this bill has been waiting for passage for the past three years, all we want is peace and cooperation between the farmers and the herders so that we can live in unity”.

The Chairman of the Mieyeteallah Cattle Breeders Association in the State, Alhaji Yakub Bello, said that herders and farmers have been together for a long time, explaining that the only thing that differentiates them was that famers deal with farm, while herders deal with cattle.

Penpushing also reports that, Bello noted that herders and farmer mostly have issues during the dry season when there is no grass for the cow to eat, and no water for the cattle to drink, adding that misunderstanding  was what used to cause violence between the two parties.

“Peace is the most important in whatever we do, we and the farmers should not see ourselves as an enemy, all we need is peace so that there will not be conflict again between us and the farmers”, he emphasised.