The Chairman of Voice of Arewa, Salisu Gezawa, has urged the South-West farmers and the herdsmen in the region to embrace peace in the interest of national unity.
Gezawa gave the advice during an interactive session with newsmen in Lagos on Wednesday.
The Area leader also urged the two parties to embrace the Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) settlement for Fulani herdsmen introduced by President Muhamadu Buhari, noting that the policy would reduce the insecurity in the region.
Gezawa said ranching was an idea prevalent in other countries even though it was vehemently kicked against by some state governments in South-West, South-East and South-South regions.
“However, ranching is the best thing we can do to ensure peace but if the southern region refuse, let the herdsmen take the policy to where there are lands in the north so there will be peace,” he said.
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The Secretary, Arewa Community in APC Lagos, Umar Daura, also noted that efforts were already in top gear to ensure peace amongst the farmers and herdsmen in the South-West.
“The Seriki Fulani has already toured the whole of South-West states from Kwara, Oyo, Ogun and Ondo States to ensure peace between farmers and herdsmen.
“This last Sunday, he went to the region to pacify them on the need not to create tension as the security of this country remains paramount,” Daura said.
He acknowledged that some criminal herdsmen had been attacking innocent people in the region but urged that matured herdsmen should be allowed to graze cattle.
Alhaji Saadu Yusuf, Acting Chairman, Arewa Community in APC Lagos State, urged members to unite and help make the revalidation and registration of membership a successful one.
Saadu said the community would sensitize members on the need to come out en mass for the revalidation of their membership status.
He also called on others with no party affiliations to join the winning team.
He said the National Identity Number (NIN) policy was a veritable policy of the Federal government to help the security architecture of the country.
“It will assist our security agencies in nibbling in the bud issue of banditry, cattle rustling, kidnapping and others, we are calling on all law abiding citizens to get registered for the NIN,” he said.
Sulaiman Bala, Secretary, Arewa Council of Chiefs, Lagos State Chapter, said most of the affected herdsmen were nomads who were pushed to clement environment due to the backlash of climate change.
Bala said that the issue of open grazing was gone for good as civilisation and urbanization had changed the narrative.