By Muhammad Aliyu
Dutse
Jigawa state government has observed with dismay that encroaching of grazing lands, animals’ routes, and denial of animals access to drinkable water were major causes of herders and famers’ persistent clashes in the country.
Secretary to the Jigawa state Government, Alhaji Lawan Abdu Babaura, stated this while responding to questions on a Radio Jigawa Hausa programme kowa yakai Kunyar sa in Dutse, the state capital, at the weekend.
He explained that in many instances, some farmers formed the habit of clearing bushes to make farms without the permission of the authorities concerned; “some with collaboration of traditional leaders without regard to the cattle rearers who use the routes.”
He said the incessant Fulani and farmers’ crises had “now become a national phenomenon.”
Babura added that since 2008, there was relative peace in the state, pointing out some states sent their representatives to Jigawa to study and learn the policy for them to adopt same in the states.
He said already the government had established 30 additional grazing lands and drilled 50 windmills for the cattle rearers to feed their animals and prove water for them to drink.
He commended the emirs of Gumel and Dutse for standing firmly to ensure that no grazing lands or animals routes were taken over by farmers in their domains.
Also, the state chairman and national vice-chairman, North-west, Miyyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN), Alhaji Ya’u Haruna Malam Madori, lamented that the Fulani were being persecuted and chased away in some states, especially in the North-central, despite the fact that some of them had stayed in those states for over 200 years.
He called on the federal government to create a Federal Ministry of Animals Rearers and directed states to do same, saying that it would ensure peace and stability in the country.