Delta Government said on Wednesday that it has strengthened plans to end the lingering clashes between farmers and herders in Uwheru community, Ughelli North Local Government Area (LGA), and other parts of the state.

The Chairman, Delta State Livestock Management Committee (DSLMC), Dr Godfrey Enita, stated this after the committee’s meeting with the stakeholders and representatives of Uwheru community in Asaba.

Enita, who doubles as the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, said the meeting was fruitful and has given insight on the main causes of the clashes, disclosing that about 40 flash points have been identified in 12 LGAs in the state.

He noted that the main culprits in the clash were normally migrant herders from the eastern part of the country,  who invade Delta communities at certain seasons of the year.

According to Enita, the meeting was convened to look into the root causes of the farmers/herders clashes in Uwheru community, it’s environs and other LGAs.

“We are trying to prevent what happened in Patani LGA from happening at Uwheru. This is because we have observed that these herders who unleash mayhem come from the eastern flank of the country.

“They are not the traditional herders that we have in the state that we know and can easily identify.

“We are told that it was these ones who migrated from the east that caused the kind of havoc that happened at Patani LGA in the state, where a family lost a father and his child. This we want to stop from repeating at Uwheru.”

The commissioner noted that Uwheru community has raised alarm over attacks by certain herders who had  prevented them from accessing their farms in the area.

“They said that the herders have taken over part of their community and made it difficult for them to go to their farms.

“We have the representative of the Fulani’s in the state, and the other stakeholders to see how we can identify those particular herders that invade the state and prevent farmers from accessing their farms,” he said.

According to Enita, the action taken was aimed at preventing the Uwheru community from taking laws into their hands to start confrontation which could lead to escalated crisis.

He said that the committee also learnt that certain persons in the community collaborate with the migrant herders by allocating lands arbitrarily to them.

“So, we have assured the community that we are coming to hold a town hall meeting  with them and all stakeholders to identify lasting solutions that would enthrone enduring peace in Uwheru and other areas across the state.

He noted that the state committee’s intervention has become necessary to ensure that nobody takes law into his hands to attack either the farmers or the traditional herders in the state.

The commissioner said that the information at the disposal of the government would help them track those migrant herders who had to swim across the Rivers into the state to cause trouble in the communities.

He said that the committee had created other operational committees to enable it achieve its objectives of securing and ensuring peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders in the state.

“We have identified about 40 flash points in 12 LGAs and critical areas in the state which we shall be deploying our trained officials to manage,” Enita said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Chairman, Oshimili North Council, Innocent Esewezie, represented the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), while Alhaji Muktar Usman and Alhaji Maikude Nineve, represented the Fulani and herders.

Mr Jonathan Afiavwure, Mrs Christina Etagbedavwure  and Mr Chief Ogarivi Ocho represented the Uwheru community. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

IO/VAO

Edited by Vincent Obi