By Our Editor
Newspointer News | Jalingo, July 7, 2025
Stakeholders in Taraba State have called for the re-identification and protection of grazing reserves and cattle routes as a measure to mitigate the persistent conflict between farmers and herders.
The call was made during a stakeholders’ engagement and town hall meeting organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Jalingo, as part of its Pathway to National Cohesion, Development and Unity initiative aimed at tackling insecurity and promoting peaceful coexistence.
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Alhaji Ibrahim Barewa, Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Taraba State chapter, said most traditional grazing routes had been encroached upon due to human activity, making livestock movement difficult and heightening tension between herders and farmers.
“The encroachment on gazetted grazing reserves and routes established since pre-colonial times has created serious challenges for herders. Many now find it difficult to move their cattle safely,” Barewa said.
He condemned the carrying of arms by some herders and urged security agencies to arrest and prosecute those found with weapons. He also accused some politicians of exploiting the situation for personal or political gain.
In his remarks, Alhaji Salisu Kumba, Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in the state, stressed that both farmers and herders are naturally peaceful, blaming external influences for the conflict.
“We urge the state government to preserve the grazing reserves and establish a Farmers-Herders Commission to address disputes through dialogue,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Mahmoud Abdullahi, Director of Livestock Services in the Taraba State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, disclosed that the state has nine gazetted grazing reserves, but most have been heavily encroached upon.
He identified youth involvement in drug abuse among herders as a growing concern and a factor contributing to violent clashes. Abdullahi said the ministry is working to re-identify the original routes and reserves to ease tensions and restore order.
Earlier, Mr Zakari Muhammad, Director of NOA in Taraba, described the farmers-herders conflict as one of the region’s most pressing security challenges. He said the NOA’s national initiative was designed to provide targeted, region-specific solutions to issues such as extremism, banditry, kidnapping, and communal clashes.
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“We believe a multifaceted approach is needed—one that promotes unity, empowers local leaders, and strengthens traditional conflict resolution mechanisms,” Muhammad stated.
The meeting brought together representatives of security agencies, religious leaders, youth and women groups, and community stakeholders across the state.
