18/06/2025
Benue: ‘Nothing like farmers-herders clash ‘ – CDS Musa gives reasons for conflicts
Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Christopher Musa, has said that there is nothing like farmers-herders clash, insisting that it is the animal that goes after the farm.
Addressing newsmen on Tuesday, the Chief of Defence Staff highlighted the three main issues behind the incessant killings in Benue State and other parts of the country.
He also noted that the issue of animal rustling, which could also be linked to the movement of animals, must be addressed.
The CDS said that the issue of land which results in violent attacks between indigenes and non indigenes has become critical and only has a political solution.
The army chief pointed out that most of those problems would go away once animals stop moving, therefore calling on the government to provide political solutions to the conflicts.
Secondly, the issue of the movement of animals. I’ve told people over time that when they say farmer headers clash, clash means two things are moving. But if a farm is just there and an animal comes in, it is not a clash, it’s somebody entering somebody’s "asset" and the only means to stop this is establishment of anti-open grazing prohibition law and implementation of ranching.
Moreso, because of that we have issues of rustling of animals, the best prevention is the establishment of ranching livestock's.
So that we must be able to address, and like i said, most of it is a political solution that needs to come into it, because it is not what the military can solve, what we can stop is to try and stop people from attacking people.”
News reported that over 200 people were burnt alive in one of the latest herdsmen attacks in Yelwata community of Guma LGA.
ATSUA F.T.
Reporting.
