Over 60,000 Nigerians have been killed as a result of the incessant clashes between herders and farmers.
According to The PUNCH, this was stated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, at the stakeholders interactive session held by the House Ad-hoc Committee on the ‘Recurring Annual Clashes Between Farmers And Herders In Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area Of Gombe State, And Neighbouring Local Government Areas, including Other Regions Of The Country With Similar Incidents’ on Monday.
Abbas, who was represented by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, stated that the House determined to take a close look into the causes, nature, dimensions, players, impact, and possible solution to the nagging national crisis because of its consequences for the collective benefit of the nation.
He said, “The clashes have resulted in avoidable losses of lives and property. It is estimated that over 60,000 people have been killed since 2001. It ought not to be so.
“The number of deaths, injuries, and kidnapped persons constitutes an alarming situation and poses a serious national security challenge for Nigeria’s quest to attain food security and alternative foreign earnings from the agricultural sector. This menace requires urgent action to be taken.
“These conflicts have escalated in recent years and it is quite consequential to our national security. What is even more concerning is the appropriation of these conflicts by terror groups, bandits, and international criminal organisations.
“This has had severe consequences including the restriction of farmers from access to their farmlands, leading to food price inflation, a high cost of living, unemployment, and loss of foreign earnings that would have accrued through the agricultural sector”
