Committees
By Mohammed Baba Busu
Bida (Niger), Aug. 22, 2026 (NAN) The Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, has directed all communities under the Bida Emirate to establish five to seven-member committees, comprising farmers and nomads to address and prevent conflicts between the two groups.
The monarch gave the directive on Saturday during a forum with the eight Local Government Council Chairmen, District Heads, and Village Heads of the Bida Emirate Council, held in Bida.
Yahaya, who is also the Chairman, Niger Council of Traditional Rulers, said the recurring farmer-herder clashes posed a serious threat to peaceful coexistence, agricultural activities, and the livelihoods of communities.
The traditional ruler stressed the need for urgent and collective action to prevent the situation from escalating.
He called for strict enforcement of the state grazing law, particularly the provision requiring a four-foot corridor for herders, as well as stronger collaboration between village heads and leaders of nomadic communities.
The Etsu Nupe also advocated the deployment of the Forest Guard Service to monitor designated grazing routes, prevent encroachment, and protect farmlands from destruction.
According to him, sustainable peace between farmers and herders can only be achieved through respect for the law, continuous dialogue, and effective use of community-based structures.
The monarch urged traditional and community leaders to discharge their responsibilities with fairness and sincerity, guided by “the fear of God rather than the fear of man.”
In his remarks, the Chairman of Mokwa Local Government Council, Alhaji Jibrin Abdullahi Muregi, who spoke on behalf of the other council chairmen, commended the Etsu Nupe for the initiative and pledged their support for its successful implementation.
Muregi, however, appealed to the emirate council to provide a clear template to guide the establishment and operations of the committees in all communities.
After extensive deliberations, leaders of the Fulani community and local residents adopted a resolution to establish the committees at the village, local government, and emirate levels.
According to the resolution, the committees will serve as early-warning and conflict-resolution mechanisms aimed at identifying emerging disputes, facilitating dialogue, and preventing farmer-herder disagreements from escalating into violence.
The initiative is expected to strengthen grassroots peacebuilding, improve communication between farmers and herders, and promote peaceful coexistence and sustainable agricultural activities across the Bida emirate. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
BAB/KLM
Edited by Muhammad Lawal
Source link
About the Author
