Mr Peter Onuorah, former member, Anambra State House of Assembly, has advocated periodic town hall meetings between herders and their host communities in the South-East to check clashes in the area.
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Onuorah, who doubles as the President-General of Anaku Progressive Union, Ayamelum Local Government Area of the state, gave the advice at a news conference on Tuesday in Awka.
He said such meetings between the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association and their host communities would provide the platform for harmonious relationship and ensure amicable resolution of areas of disagreement.
Onuorah, who served as majority leader between 2003 and 2007, said that his community was waiting for the response of Miyetti Allah after a discussion with its leader, Alhaji Gidado Sadiq.
“Anaku community is using this medium to echo our desire to meet with the leadership of Miyetti Allah in a town hall meeting soon.
“Gov. Willie Obiano directed communities, where Fulani herders operate, to meet Miyetti Allah leadership for them to fashion out ways to ensure peaceful operations.
“This directive was given since February 2018 but, regrettably, the leadership of Miyetti Allah in the state is not forthcoming for the meeting,” he said.
Onuorah described the meeting as crucial “because very soon farmers will start planting and cases of clashes will begin to resonate.
“But early meeting could help to proffer solutions for a peaceful co-existence between famers and herders,’’ he said.
He refuted the rumour that four members of Miyetti Allah were killed in Anaku and Ifite-Ogwari and their 138 cattle missing, saying that there was no truth in it.
“Toward the end of January, there was a problem between the herders and farmers in Ifite-Ogwari.
“The swift intervention of the Anambra Government led to the amicable resolution of the impasse and group photograph taken after the meeting,’’ Onuoha said.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the chairman of Miyetti Allah said his group was not opposed to attending a town hall meeting with Anaku community.
Sadiq also denied the rumour about the killing of some herders in Anaku, saying that he was not aware of the killing of a header in the area since this year.
He said, “It was last year that some herders were killed in Anaku but the problem has since been resolved, following the intervention of Gov. Obiano.’’