By Olamide Tejuoso
Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Bello, in a move to foster peace, as well as nurture harmonious relationships among the citizenry of the state, has promised to re-imburse any pastoralists in the state, who may have lost cattle to bandits at any point in time.
The pledge was made by the governor in a message he sent to the Fulani Cultural Festival, organised by the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Fulani Socio-Cultural Association of Nigeria, at the Aliyu Ndayoko Memorial Stadium in Bida.
The governor stated that six pastoralists, two from each of the state’s three senatorial zones, who were the victims of cattle rustling, would be identified and given 10 cattle each as compensation in the first congress, according to the statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Ahmed Matane.
Responding, Alhaji Bello Badejo, who spoke on behalf of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Horse Fulani Socio-Cultural Association, urged farmers and herders in the state to live in harmony adding that, having a common goal would go a long way in helping to achieve the state’s much-desired economic development.
The governor further disclosed that the state government had reactivated the Bobi Grazing Reserve and other reserves in the state with a view to mitigating conflicts between farmers and herders, adding that “The reserves, apart from being a pragmatic and sustainable solution to farmers-herders clashes, will also generate employment opportunities”.
