Abuja – The Minister of Interior, retired Lt.-Gen Abdulrahman Dambazau, on Wednesday said the Federal Government would hold a town hall meeting between herdsmen and farmers to address the lingering crises between them.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Press Secretary to the minister, Mr Osaigbovo Ehisienmen, in Abuja.
“Following the disturbing trend of avoidable clashes between herdsmen and farmers in some parts of the country, the Federal Government is finalising plans to call for a town hall dialogue.
“The dialogue will involve critical stakeholders at a date to be announced,’’ it said.
It decried the lingering crises between the two groups, noting that it had become imperative to examine the factors that gave rise to such conflicts as well as find a lasting solution to them.
It noted that the realisation of the immense contributions of herdsmen and farmers to the nation’s economy had made it more expedient to have an all-inclusive dialogue.
The statement further said the dialogue would involve stakeholders from various umbrella associations of herders, farmers, state governments and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).
Other stakeholders that would attend the meeting include the civil societies, media, MDAs, professional bodies and humanitarian institutions.
It said that the proposed dialogue would provide opportunities for various stakeholders to share views and provide honest answers to the various questions that might arise.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that clashes between herdsmen and farmers had led to deaths and destruction of property in some parts of the country.
