A fresh clash between herdsmen and farmers in Ugaga community, Yala
Local Government Area of Cross River has left one person dead and
several others sustaining various level of injuries.
Disclosing this to newsmen shortly after Emergency State Security
Council Meeting in Calabar, Governor of the State, Prof Ben Ayade said
that the meeting was one of his proactive steps in stemming the security
crisis in the area from escalating and to protect lives and property of
the citizenry.
He directed immediate deployment of all the security apparatus in the state to forestall breakdown of law and order in the area.
In his words, “We have already deployed the military, police and
other security agencies to ensure that the situation is brought under
control and as we speak, the area is calm and peaceful.”
The clash between the herdsmen and farmers came against the backdrop
of the full implementation of the anti-open grazing bill recently passed
into law by the Benue State government.
“During our meeting, we did an analytical appraisal of the situation
and we have come out with a very strong active point that must be
implemented urgently.
“One of such measures is to immediately institute a mediation team
comprising the security operatives, the fulani community, and my Special
Adviser on non-indigene affairs as well as the leader of Hausa/ Fulani
community in the state,” he said.
The governor, who admitted that the anti-grazing law of Benue State
has put a lot of pressure on Cross River, particularly along border
communities and towns, lamented that the state now bears the brunt of
that law.
“If the federal government does not come to lend its support to the
state, what will happen is that they are leaving the farmers and the
herdsmen to take on themselves,” he added.
Ayade noted that as a result of the full implementation of the
anti-open grazing law by the Benue State government, “there has been a
mass exodus of Fulani herdsmen to Cross River. This has become more
exacerbated by the changes in climatic condition as the grasses up north
is getting dryer and the impact is what resulted in the incident we
recorded yesterday were there was a skirmish between the herdsmen and
Ugaga community, leading to loss of life.
“If Cross River State does nothing, the continuous exodus of
uncontrolled number of herdsmen into the state will result in more
crisis. So, we must do something actively and fast too because it is
causing anxiety, fear and worry and all through yesterday Sunday night,
all the calls and suggestions I got were that we should follow the
direction of Benue State.”
According to Ayade, “We in Cross River have lived with the herdsmen
peacefully over time but obviously, with the passage of the
Anti-Open-Grazing law and its full implementation in Benue, it is having
its effect on us.
Currently, the situation is where the farmers feel a
deep sense of loss with the continuous grazing on their economic crops
while the herdsmen are desperately searching for pastures to sustain
their cattle.”
Ayade urged the Federal government “to summon the courage and tackle
the issue because if all the states pass a stiff law against grazing,
then we are wiping out that trade and source of livelihood of some
persons and if on the other hand, we also do nothing, and they continue
to wipe out the crops, then you are also wiping out the source of living
of another set of people.
“At this juncture, it is wise for us to call on the Federal
Government to live up to its responsibilities by responding adequately
to the plight of the people affected by the menace of herdsmen across
the country.”
Commissioner of Police, Hafiz Inuwa, who confirmed that one life was
lost in the clash with one injured, disclosed that his men have been
fully mobilized to the scene, adding that the security of the area was
under control.