Ongoing crisis between Farmers and Fulani herdsmen

Recently, there has been an up-rise in conflicts between Farmers and Fulani herdsmen despite efforts by the Federal and State government to curb these. On Sunday the 17th of April, an attack was reported in Moor in Kwande Local Government Area, Benue state, which is now a territory occupied by the herdsmen. Indigenes have been chased from their homes by herdsmen and are now refugees in surrounding communities, schools and government facilities have also been destroyed. This crisis is said to have begun in the year 2013 and over 100 people have been killed as a result, with thousands rendered homeless.

Another case is that of Tyoshin community in the Gwer-West Local Government Area of Benue State, where herdsmen have destroyed farms and land. The people of the community have charged the perpetrators to the Makurdi High Court and are now demanding for a fine of N100bn to be paid by the trespassers. They have also requested for the court to restrain them from further movement on their land. It is reported that Fulani herdsmen began attacking communities in the Gwer-West LGA in 2011. Houses, farms and reserve of harvested crops have been destroyed due to recent attacks.

Aside Benue state, there has been several reports of disturbance between farmers and Fulani herdsmen around the country and in Plateau state, security operatives have banned the movement of herdsmen after 7pm in some local government areas.

A spokesman for the President, Mr Garba Shehu, who was a guest at Channels television yesterday, said that the President, Muhammadu Buhari, has ordered the deployment of military personnels to States that are currently facing crisis between farmers and herdsmen. This deployment is a part of the procedures to end the on-going conflict and also, there are plans by the federal government to lay out grazing areas which has been presented to the governors of the affected states. Already, a lot of people in the affected areas have spoken against this grazing bill, saying that they do not have to provide their lands for use by the herdsmen. They insist that the fulani herdsmen should provide for their animals on their own land, so as to prevent further disturbance.
So what is your say on this issue, should farmers give up their land for use by the herdsmen? Remember, your opinion counts!