Herdsmen migrating to communities in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State would henceforth be subjected to registration before they could be allowed to settle in any community in the area. Musa Gobir, chairman, Transition Implementation Committee (TIC), has said.
He however clarified that the council was not ‘‘against any Nigerian willing to settle in the area regardless of ethic affiliation as long as they are ready to live peacefully with one another,’’ but maintained that such person must have traceable identity.
Baruten Local Government is an agrarian community that shares boundaries with Republic of Benin and had in recent time witnessed clashes between herdsmen and farmers, which left some dead.
Fielding questions from journalists in Baruten at the sideline of the 15th Gure Day celebration held in the Gure, the TIC chairman said the council would also this week convey a security meeting to resolve the issue.
He said the meeting would be attended by the leaders of the Miyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in the state, where issues relating to the recent clash with farmers would be resolved amicably.
‘‘Fulani know themselves even if you commit a crime here and run to Sokoko, they know themselves,” the council boss said.
He further explained that the people of the community ‘‘have lived peacefully with herdsmen for over 30 years, some of their children now speak our language,’’ saying that the measure became necessary in view of the incessant clashes with farmers.
‘‘The problem is not with the owners of the cows but the herdsmen who were entrusted with the care of the cows,” he said.
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