Ranching only solution to farmers/herdsmen clash -Tor Tiv
The chairman, Benue Council of Chiefs and Tor Tiv, Orcivirigh Prof. James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, has emphasised that the only possible and lasting solution to the menace of farmers and Fulani herdsmen clashes is ultimately ranching since the problem has defied all efforts by stakeholders to surmount it.
The Tor Tiv who stated this while speaking to newsmen in Makurdi at the weekend enumerated the numerous benefits derivable from ranching apart from protecting both human lives and property to include generating employment for youths, and establishment of industries to produce feeds for the animals, security of the livestock from rustlers and increase productivity of the livestock.
According to the monarch, ranching will also provide opportunities for headsmen to benefit more adequately from government programmes such as nomadic education.
The paramount ruler called on the federal government to actively support ranching to save the lives of innocent farmers whose farms have been constantly destroyed by cattle.
The president of Tiv Area traditional council stressed the need for the federal government to regulate population growth as part of the roadmap to addressing future security challenges that arise from increase in youth unemployment.
He further advised that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should be supported to use technologies that can make rigging and snatching of ballot boxes by youths that are often used by politicians for such purpose no longer possible saying this will discourage criminal activities perpetrated by the these armed youths after the elections.
The Begha u Tiv further called on the federal government to embark on a comprehensive recovery exercise of illegal arms and ammunition in circulation and enforce the laws against possession of same as a strategy to reduce violent crimes in the society.
The Tor Tiv particularly lauded the patriotism of the Benue State House of Assembly in passing the Anti Open Grazing bill and assured the state government of the support of the traditional rulers in its
