By Amos Tauna
In view of the escalating clashes between farmers and cattle rearers in northern Nigeria, Northern States Governors’ Forum has noted that the free movement of persons, goods and services within the West African sub-region as ratified by the ECOWAS Convention should be subjected to the laws of individual member States in order to check cross-border crimes especially cattle rustling.
The meeting observed that creating more grazing reserves and providing adequate infrastructure in such reserves by way of their animals before the enactment of the appropriate legislation would ameliorate the challenges.
A communique issued and read by Aminu Bello Masari, Katsina State governor, on behalf of Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima, at the end of the two-day meeting of Northern States Governors’ Forum with traditional rulers in Kaduna, northern Nigeria, explained that the Forum had constituted a committee to collate views and comments on the state of nation on agitations for restructuring of the country.
The committee to be chaired by Gov. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State, is mandated to collect and collate views regarding various agitations for restructuring of the country from individuals, groups and corporate organisations in the region.
It said, ”The committee is to come up with acceptable, tenable and sustainable position for the Northern region in consonance with provisions of the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, taking into cognizance the current constitutional amendment process going on in the National Assembly.”
Other members of the committee, according to the communiqué are: Governors of Nasarawa, Gombe, Benue, Bauchi and Kaduna States as well as Emirs of Kano and Gummi, Etsu Nupe and Gbong Gwon Jos as members while the Deputy Governor of Plateau state is to serve as the Committee Secretary.
On the centralization of security, the forum called on the federal government to strengthen the capability of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies with adequate funding and logistical requirements to enable them perform their statutory mandate in a more effective and efficient manner.
“It is pertinent to also ensure that funds and operational equipment allocated to our security agencies, cascade down to all the various command structures at the state level. This will improve their ability to effectively check security challenges.
“The Forum also condemns the deadly communal clashes such as the recent Mambila massacre, the Aguta crisis in Benue State and the one of Kajuru, Kaduna State. All available judicial and administrative processes and procedures should be fully utilized to ensure that those responsible for inciting or participated in the violence are to bear the full wrath of the law no matter how highly placed the culprits are. The rule of law should be fully enforced,” the communique explained.
The meeting noted that the increasing rate of armed banditry was becoming rampant in the region especially Forest Reserves like Kamuku and Falgore provide shelter for banditry. The forum called on the federal government to relinquish forest reserves to their domiciled states for better manning and proper security coverage.
Looking at the conflict between farmers and cattle rearers, the meeting noted that the free movement of persons, goods and srrvices within the West African sub-region as ratified by the ECOWAS Convention should be subjected to the laws of individual me, ber States in order to check cross-border crimes especially cattle rustling.
