THE Chief Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission (PCC), Mr Chille Igbawua, says plans are underway to embark on comprehensive investigation toward ending the farmers/herdsmen crisis in the country.

Igbawua disclosed this when members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) visited him on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to him, under the commission’s mandate there is need for systematic investigation, since solution will not come by violence; solution comes by peaceful resolution and dialogue.

“Nigeria is a country with different ethnicity, we have different culture and pursue different goals but our constitution requires all of us to live in peace; every citizen have the tight to move freely and transact business anywhere in Nigeria.

“It is the duty of the security agencies to ensure that every Nigerian moving is protected and that every Nigerian doing business is not only protected but also his business.

“We should not see all Fulani men as herdsmen and would be unfair to generalise all of them as bad people.

“So, any kind of assessment trying to generalise Fulani ethnic group is an unfair ethnic profiling and ethnic profiling will not do Nigeria any good”.

He said that the country has failed to work out progressive policies for the nature of trade that the herdsmen do, saying that with certain climate, ecological, growth and developmental changes it would be impossible to have this movement.

The commissioner said that the government policies in agriculture have not been proactive; adding that if we have proactive policy Nigeria would not be at this stage.

He said that government would ensure that the correct environment was made available for all to carry out their trade.

Igbawua said that as development continues there would be change in the ecological system, adding that there was need to take care of these changes in the ecology and changing climate to address this crisis.

“If you bring policy it should be followed with infrastructure that is when these policies will be functional.

He said that the government would work out modern way of raising cattle to avoid crisis in the country.

He said that government would not only stop the killing but would proffer lasting solution by providing the relevant infrastructure needed by the herders to carry out their business.

On the complaint raised by the association against Amnesty International, the commissioner promised to investigate it and call both parties if need be for settlement.

He commended them for taking the right step in seeking justice instead of violence and assured them of the commission’s support in getting justice.

The National Chairman, MACBAN, Mr Yusuf Ardo said that the delegates were in the commission to officially complain against the 2018 report of the Amnesty International against the Fulani herdsmen.

He said that the Fulanis are peace loving people, adding that the crisis between the farmer and herdsmen was a very serious matter of worry.

Ardo said the association was seeking lasting solution to the crisis.

He said the association was ready to support government’s vision to bring lasting peace in the country.

“I want to advise all Nigerians, we should try to embrace peace, peace is the only option; there is no way any community or tribe can erase the other we are made to live together.

“Nobody choose to be Nigerian we found ourselves in Nigeria, no matter the tribe we are brothers and sisters; the earlier we embrace peace the better for us all,” he said. (NAN)

– Feb. 6, 2019 @ 18:29 GMT |