The enlarged Meeting of the Kwara State Security Committee was held on Tuesday, March 27, 2018. It was attended by all the Members of the State Security Committee, Chairpersons of the 16 Local Government Councils, all First Class Traditional Rulers in Kwara State, the leadership of Miyetti Allah, and Seriki Fulani from the 16 Local Government Areas in the State as well as those of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Kwara State Chapter.
The meeting was informed by the spate of Herdsmen/Farmers clashes in some parts of the Country and particularly in the North Central Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria, where Kwara State belongs. Besides, issues relating to Cultism, indiscriminate tree felling for charcoal and kidnapping were also discussed. Even though the occurrence of Herdsmen/Farmers clashes is insignificant in Kwara State, the need to get talking with all the stakeholders to mitigate such occurrence prompted the meeting.
During the meeting, each of the major stakeholders bore their minds on issues that could instigate conflict between the Herdsmen and Farmers. Some of those issues exhaustively deliberated upon are: night grazing, grazing on farmlands, attack on the cattle of herdsmen, among a host of others. After careful deliberations, the enlarged Security Committee Meeting in the State resolved to:
i. stem the rising and alarming tide of security challenges confronting five of the 16 Local Government Areas in the State: Ekiti, Baruten, Kaiama, Ilorin South and Ifelodun LGAs;
ii. encourage the sustenance of arrangements between Herdsmen and Farmers to pay due compensation when either side’s properties are destroyed, for the protection of the interest of aggrieved parties without resorting to self-help;
iii. improve communication among MIYETTI ALLAH, Farmers and Security Agents in the State for better understanding of mode of operations of all parties for sustained peace;
iv. stem the tide of night grazing forthwith due to its potential to stir up problems among the stakeholders;
v. discourage stakeholders from criminalizing herdsmen under the umbrella of MIYETTI ALLAH as well as ascribing criminality to a tribe particularly in information dissemination;
vi. appeal to the Federal Government to initiate a funding policy on ranching system that will allow the Herdsmen (i) rear their cattle without encroaching on farm lands; and (ii) have access to credit facilities at single digit rates for enhanced operations;
vii. improve synergy of communication among MIYETTI ALLAH, Farmers and Security Agencies;
viii. encourage MIYETTI ALLAH to carry all and sundry along in all their activities and properly identify their members to avoid demonizing and criminalizing the innocent;
ix. sufficiently create wealth from cattle rearing and cropping through efficient and profitable use of all parts of both businesses and solidify friendship between the Herdsmen and the Farmers;
x. appreciate His Excellency, Alhaji (Dr.) Abdulfatah Ahmed, the Executive Governor of Kwara State, on his decision to, within two weeks, appoint a Special Assistant, Fulani Affairs to represent MIYETTI ALLAH in Government and improve communication between the duo;
xi. ensure that new settlers are disallowed on any parcel of land in Kwara State unless such is properly profiled, identified and with due communication from where such originate from and with the knowledge of the affected traditional ruler;
xii. local government councils and traditional rulers to promote community involvement in policing by all citizens and residents through surveillance and provision of timely information to the Security Agencies to enable them apprehend and prosecute suspected criminals;
xiii. hold security meetings of the type held today, Tuesday, March 27, 2018 on monthly basis, and that Chairmen of the 16 LGAs should ensure the same is replicated in their LGAs with full mobilization of all the stakeholders and the report forwarded to the office of the Secretary to the Government of Kwara State;
xiv. appeal to the Federal Government to optimally utilize the forest reserves in Kwara State and those of the neighboring States providing undue shelter for criminals; and
The stakeholders in attendance at the meeting praised the foresight and pro-activeness of His Excellency, Alhaji (Dr.) Abdulfatah Ahmed, the Executive Governor of Kwara State, for convening the meeting at this time, which is not only apposite but appropriate. They pledged to give due publicity to all issues discussed at the meeting among the other stakeholders so as to ensure that the relative peace prevalent in the State is not truncated but sustained for social and political stability and the economic prosperity of the State of Peace and Harmony.
Signed
Alhaji Sola Isiaka Gold
Secretary to the Government of Kwara State
27th March, 2018
Communique on the enlarged meeting of Kwara State security committee
