As incidence of clashes between herdsmen and farmers takes the front burner nationwide, concerned stakeholders have advocated for the establishment of ranches in order to contain the movement of cattle and cattle rearers.
The call was contained in a communiqué issued by representatives of herdsmen, farmers, faith based organizations and community stakeholders at a mediation meeting facilitated by the Delta State Conflict Management Alliance in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
The mediation meeting was sequel to two earlier ones held separately with traditional rulers, community Stakeholders, herdsmen and farmers.
The communiqué which acknowledged the need to identify and develop a database of cattle dealers, rearers as well as owners, advised the state government to be proactive in tackling the issues of cattle rustling, even as it charged cattle dealers to liaise with formal security agents and community leaders in crisis situation.
While stakeholders at the meeting acknowledged the constitutional rights of freedom of movement of pastoralists, they noted that dealers should respect the corresponding liability for injury or damage caused by them as provided by law.
They resolved that cattle dealers should be sensitized on liability of animal keeping which include failure to restrain and keep the animals in a manner prescribed by law, animals straying independently on their own to a plaintiff’s land, carelessly leaving them on the highway to the disturbance of the public and if they cause injury or damage to another animal, crops and chattels.
Stakeholders, who ventilated their grievances and brainstormed on the way forward in the festering crisis, enjoined community leaders, cattle dealers, rearers and owners to show mutual understanding and as well make earnest efforts to expose those who perpetuate the heinous crime in their respective communities, stressing that a committee should be put in place in all local government areas where herdsmen and farmers would be represented.
They urged the government to review report and the resolution of previous committee on herdsmen, farmers and communities in the state even as the communiqué called for a legal framework to guide the business of cattle rearers.
