To stop the ongoing conflicts between herders and farmers, the Nigerian government is thinking of resuming the ranching programme.
This was stated in a note from Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, according to NAN.
The communication is captioned "Heightened misunderstanding between farmers and herders in Abia, Delta, and Kwara States" and is signed by David Attah, a Director in the SGF office.
According to the SGF, wars and the recurrent invasion of farmlands by migrant herders pose a threat to food security.
Mustapha also saw that the confrontations had a negative impact on the communities' ability to live in peace.
The document states that "the aforementioned development highlights the need to reassess and modify the ranching programme."
The SGF encouraged the appropriate ministers to take the required steps to protect those who live in rural areas.
As a result of the herders' alleged invasion of farmlands in the Oblene forest, Mustapha warned of violence between farmers and herders in the Opiene community of the Arochukwu LGA of Abia.
It was reported that several dozen nomads had arrived from the nearby Itu village in the Gdukpani LGA of Cross River State.
Kalu Irem, the community's president general, has recently sounded the alarm and demanded immediate government action.
In the document, it is also mentioned that the increased number of unusual pastoralists has caused unease in the communities of Ogwashi-Uku and Ubulu-Unor in Delta State's Aniocha LGA.
In Chibata and Aboh-Ogwashi villages in the same LGA, locals' refusal to act as guarantors to herders encroaching on some farms caused concern.
Additionally in Kwara, it was alleged that nomads in the Marafa axis of the Ilorin-East LGA were getting ready to fight locals who had become their hosts.
According to the document, the anticipated altercation was brought on by the recent attack on two of their kin in the neighbourhood.
At the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Sadik Isah and Abubakar Bindo, the victims, are receiving medical attention.
After its initial introduction, the Buhari administration's National Livestock Transformation Programme (NLTP) encountered opposition.
About 22 out of the 36 states had expressed interest in joining the programme as of October 21, 2022.