ABUJA, NIGERIA – On Tuesday, the Senate rejected new proposals to establish grazing routes for cattle rearers, a contentious issue that has sparked considerable debate across the country. The decision came during deliberations over a motion addressing the recent attack and killing of residents in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State, allegedly perpetrated by herdsmen.
The motion, brought forward by Senator Isah Jibrin (APC, Kogi East), prompted the Senate to observe a minute of silence in memory of the victims. In response to the humanitarian crisis, the Senate mandated the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to supply relief materials to those displaced and now living in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.
Additionally, the Senate resolved to form an ad-hoc committee tasked with organizing a national summit to investigate the persistent farmers/herders clashes and to develop recommendations for future legislative action.
However, the Senate dismissed an additional proposal by Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North), which called on the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to establish new grazing routes. Monguno argued that creating grazing routes would prevent cattle from encroaching on farmlands, thereby reducing conflicts between farmers and herders.
In his remarks, Senator Ahmed Lawan (APC, Yobe North) supported the idea of government assistance for herders affected by cattle rustling, emphasizing the need to address both security and economic dimensions of the issue. “This is a security issue as much as it is an economic issue,” he stated. “We must continue to protect the lives and property of our citizens, which is the essence of governance.”
The Senate’s decisions reflect ongoing efforts to find a balanced and sustainable solution to the complex issue of farmers and herders clashes in Nigeria.
