Herdsmen/ farmers clash: Threat to food security in Nigeria – Nwabuko

The incessant Fulani herdsmen- farmers clashes have been described as an unhealthy development to the Nigeria’s food self sufficiency effort.

The Principal Secretary to Abia State Governor, Emma Nwabuko stated this while addressing women protesters from Bende LGA who staged a peaceful rally to the Government House, Umuahia to complain about the destruction of their farms by Fulani herdsmen.

He said that the situation calls for urgent attention by the federal and state governments, pointing out that the anti-grazing bill before the Senate is the antidote that will bring lasting solution to the problem.

Engr. Nwabuko who lamented that farmers are undergoing a lot of hardship due to the destruction of their farmlands by herdsmen, said the Abia state government was not folding its arms as it has complained to the Federal Government to look into the matter to avert a breakdown of law and order in the states.

According to him, Abia state government will not relent in its efforts to find a lasting solution to the menace, maintaining that government will soon convene a meeting with the leadership of the Hausa community in the state with a view to drawing their attention to the menace and the need for them to call their kinsmen to order.

Earlier, one of the spokes persons of the group, Lolo Comfort Nwachukwu said their visit was to appeal to the state government to come to their aid over the destruction of their farm lands and constant harassment and intimidation by Fulani herdsmen.

She lamented that their crops are always ravaged by cows while some of their kinsmen have been attacked by herdsmen over time, pointing out that they now live in perpetual fear of attack by the Fulani herdsmen.