Farmer/Herders conflicts: Ban herdsmen from West African countries coming to Nigeria; Ganduje tells FG


…Herders from Nassarawa, Enugu and Oyo states willing to relocate to Kano soon, says MACBAN
By Kim Musa Ndoh
KANO – Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State, has on Saturday called on the Federal government to ban herdsmen from the West African countries and others from coming into the country to end the incessant farmers and herders clashes among other insecurity challenges.
This was as he called for the review of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS protocols to prevent the herdsmen from coming into the country to reduce the level of conflicts.
Ganduje made the call when he commissioned a 25 housing units and inspected ongoing Two million litres of earth dams for Rural Grazing Areas (RUGA) settlement of some Fulani herdsmen in Dansoshiya forest, Kiru local government area of Kano state.
According to him, “We appeal to the Federal Government to even after the Covid-19 interstate border lockdown, the border closure should remain to prevent the Fulani herders from West Africa to come into the country. Such migration should be prevented.
“The ECOWAS protocols should be reviewed so that the herdsmen are not being allowed into Nigeria so that we reduce the level of conflicts.
“They (Fulani herdsmen) move with arms and ammunition, so we appeal to the government to prevent them from coming into the country,” Ganduje said.
The Governor continued when he said, “We engage in this project for three fundamental reasons, first and foremost is to avoid clashes between farmers and herders. Secondly, to avoid movement of herders which is the source of conflict and to avoid cattle rustling.
“Thirdly, it is absolutely necessary to improve and modernise breeding system for Fulani cattle. As it is clear that a gallon of milk is more expensive than one gallon of petrol, it is, therefore, necessary for us to utilize this great opportunity.