The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Osun State Command, has actually cautioned that herders must deflect farms so as to prevent the destruction of farm produce which is the cause of the farmer-herder crisis.

This caution was offered by the Osun NSCDC Commandant, Emmanuel Ocheja, in Osogbo, the state capital, during a one-day workshop in preparation for the 2022 International Civil Defence Day.

Represented by the Head of Agro Rangers Unit of the Command, Deputy Commandant of Corps, Yaqeen Yekini, Ocheja encouraged that all stakeholders in the agro-allied sector must welcome the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms to fix issues rather than turn to confrontations and aggressive fight.

Delivering a lecture on the theme, “Civil Defence and Management of Displaced in the Face of Disaster and Crisis; Role of Volunteers and the Fight Against Pandemics,” Ocheja assured that the Corps was committed to the security of the agro-allied industry and is prepared to confront other security difficulties that may negatively impinge food production and security in the state.

The Osun NSCDC employer kept in mind that the Federal Government is poised to make sure that everybody who is participated in farming has a serene environment to tackle their profession without any worry of intimidation or harassment.

In his words, “The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps is ready to cooperate with both herders and farmers to attain a serene co-existence in Osun state.

“We recommend all celebrations to welcome making use of Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms to solve issues when such occurs instead of resort to fights and aggressive battle.

“As such, we are alerting herders to deflect from farm as the damage of farm produce is the significant issue between herders and farmers.”

Ocheja likewise reiterated the preparedness of the NSCDC to cooperate with the Fulani-Bororo community in the state to accomplish a serene coexistence between farmers and herders in Osun State.

In his remark, the Chairman of Ayedire city government, Adigun Adejare, while vowing his unalloyed assistance to the Corps and all other security companies, advised both herders and farmers to continue to reside in peace so that an end can be sought to the incessant farmers and herdsmen clashes in the state.

A representative of the Fulani Bororo in the state, Alhaji Seidu Adamu, while appreciating the NSCDC for installing the program, guaranteed that ranchers will continue to explore every opportunity to engender peace and consistency.

There have actually been very little incidents of farmer-herder clashes in Osun State in the recent past and this has been due to the dedication of the state federal government to pursue peaceful coexistence in between farmers and herders.

In 2021, the state taped spread occurrences of ranchers attacks in Wasinmi village in Irewole local government where regional herdsmen, his better half and grandchildren were murdered by yet-to-be-identified gunmen.

There were isolated cases of ranchers attack on commuters plying the Osogbo-Obokun highway which resulted in the death of the motorist of a business bus in 2021.

With the introduction of the Osun Security Network Agency aka Amotekun and the cooperation between sister security firms, the events of herdsmen attacks have minimized in the state.