The Osun State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Emmanuel Ocheja has advocated for the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), as a way to stem herders-farmers conflicts, usually bother on land resources across the country.
Osun NSCDC Head of Agro Rangers Unit and Deputy Commandant of the Corps (DCC) Yaqeen Rafiu Olarenwaju who represented the Commandant made this known while featuring on a program ‘The Defender’.
The Commandant Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Corps II (ASC II) Atanda Olabisi made this known Wednesday in a statement she e-signed
DCC Yaqeen the statement indicated uncovered some of the benefits that accrue in the course of mediating between farmers and herders in Osun state and by extention, Nigeria at large.
The Deputy Commandant who was accompanied at the programe by the agency State’s Spokesperson stressed that the establishment of Agro Rangers Unit in NSCDC some couple of years ago has indeed aided the Corps in maintaining peaceful coexistence between aggrieved farmers and Fulani/Bororo herdsmen in no small measure.
He condemned the use of coercive effort in settling herders/farmers conflicts as it attracts no consequential positive effect.
The Deputy Commandant also highlighted some of the benefits as outright eradication of bloody clashes between the farmers and the herdsmen, the accrual of financial compensation to the affected party through Alternative Dispute Resolution brings about peaceful coexistence between the two parties and restoration of unity between the farmers and the herdsmen.
He opined that inter-tribal clashes are threats to national unity, hence, the need for Alternative Dispute Resolution.
DCC Yaqeen equally dwelled on the sawmillers who deal in felling of trees in the bush. The activities of sawmillers and loggers also affect the crop farmers, adding that disputes do not only happen between the crop farmers and the herdsmen alone.
He, therefore, educated the general public that the sawmillers are also not exempted in the area of damaging farmers’ farmlands and crops in the course of their daily search for means of livelihood.
DCC Yaqeen also stressed that every effort of the Unit is being geared towards curbing the menace of herders/farmers clashes through peaceful Alternative Dispute Resolution, the mechanism of which has greatly helped in restoring seemingly endless peace in our various communities within the state.
He hinted that the newly established Agro Rangers Base Stations (ARBS) across the senatorial districts would bring the Agro Rangers personnel closer to Agro Allied stakeholders in the grassroots.
Yaqeen expressed his profound gratitude to the Osun state Command of NSCDC, for his commitment and solidarity with the Unit in accomplishing its aims and objectives inspite of several challenges.
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