Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo on Tuesday promised to put an end to the incessant farmer/herder clashes in the state.
He made the pledge while inaugurating a 27-man Livestock Control Committee charged with finding lasting solutions to the farmer/herder clashes in the state.
The committee is headed by Cecil Esekhaigbe, a retired general in the Nigerian Army.Okpebholo urged the committee members to carry out the assignment carefully and with fear of God because of its sensitive nature.
“There is a task that we need to handle carefully while this assignment is being carried out.
“We have to carry it out with the fear of God so that we can have especially the best time and result. We can see what is happening today. Herders clashes here and there.
“You have to confine them to a particular location. That is the essence of this committee.‘I have people with a wealth of experience in the committee. So, I believe that with God on our side, we are going to achieve our purpose,” he said.
Responding, the Committee Chairman, Esekhaigbe, listed the specific terms of reference of the committee to include: regulating the movement of livestock within the State; inspecting, certifying, and registering all ranches; controlling the activities of cattle herdsmen within various communities.
He promised that the assignment would be carried out to the best abilities of members so as to ensure that these communal clashes would be a thing of the past in the state.
Okpebholo also inaugurated a high-powered Boundary Committee, chaired by the state deputy governor, Dennis Idahosa.
The committee is to address boundary disputes affecting communities within the State and those bordering neighboring States.
“I am happy to see this moment because communities, especially the ones that share boundaries with us, have issues that border on clear landmarks.
“We have Lagos, we have Ondo, we have Delta, we have Kogi State. So, we have boundary crises here and there. For this reason, I think the people before me today are the best to handle this task for the betterment of Edo people,” he said.
Dennis Idahosa, the Committee chairman, assured that the committee would ensure accurate boundary demarcation, promote peaceful coexistence among communities and foster development in the areas affected by conflicts while collaborating with all stakeholders and actively engaging with citizens in fulfilling our mandate.”
