Herdsmen and farmers from across the five states in the south-east zone met yesterday in Enugu, capital of Enugu State and struck a pact that henceforth, they will continue to live in peace and harmony while praying that other zones in the country should emulate the development.
The meeting was spearheaded by the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, and the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Enugu State Chapter and other stakeholders.
The leadership of the two groups said that the rest of other geo-political zones in the country should emulate the standard they have set for peaceful co-existence.
Addressing newsmen after the meeting, the South-East zonal Chairman of Miyetti Allah, Alhaji Gidado Siddiki, said that the interactive session was important so as to bring about enduring peace between the herdsmen and the farmers/host communities.
He also said the gathering was to dispel speculations in some quarters that the herders were in the state to terrorize their host communities.
According to Siddiki, “The essence of this meeting is to bring the farmers and herders together for interaction so that we will know ourselves as well as dispel the rumour that we are here to terrorize.
“I seek to awaken all of us on our joint responsibility not only to preserve good neighborliness but to grow it beyond the prevailing situation today. I make a clarion call for peace, and hope that this excites us to positive actions towards a better Nigeria.
“We are here to feed our cattle and we are not here to harm anybody. This meeting will bring us together so that the farmers will feel at home when they see the cattle breeders.
“The cattle breeders will equally take members of their host communities as their brothers and sisters.”
