By Auwalu Yusuf
Maiadua (Katsina State) – Katsina State Government has demarcated 178 kilometres of cattle routes in the efforts to prevent clashes between farmers and herdsmen and ensure harmonious coexistence between them.
Malam Abubakar Yar’adua, Chairman, Katsina State Standing Committee for Farmers and Herdsmen Cooperation, made the disclosure in Maidua Local Government Area on Tuesday, when he addressed hundreds of farmers and herdsmen.
He commended people of the area for maintaining harmonious coexistence between them and herdsmen.
Yar’adua attributed clashes between herdsmen and farmers to indiscriminate encroachment into cattle routes and farmlands by both sides, stressing that the committee’s effort was to prevent the clashes.
He added that his committee was working in collaboration with the authorities in Maradi, in the neighbouring Niger Republic, to improve relationship between farmers and herdsmen in border communities .
He called on the 34 local councils in the state to establish similar committees in their locality to achieve wider coverage and ensure lasting peace and stability .
“The local committee shall comprise of traditional rulers, farmers and herders associations and community leaders as members,’’ he said.
Earlier, the Chairman of Maiadua local government, Malam Salisu Na-Allahu commended the committee for its relentlessness in ensuring peace and stability between farmers and herdsmen.
He assured that the local council would continue to support the committee in achieving its mandate of with a ensuring lasting peace in the state.
Also, Alhaji Ahmad Diddiri, the District Head of Maiadua, lauded the efforts of the state government in establishing the committee and pledged the support of the traditional institution to the committee.(NAN)