The Rural Development Programme of Justice Development and Peace Movement (JDPM) of the Catholic Diocese of Oyo organized stakeholders forum on peaceful coexistence between crop farmers and herdsmen in Iseyin zone recently to dialogue on the security challenges in Oke-Ogun region of Oyo State. The event featured participants from all walks of life; Seriki, Jowuro, Baale Agbe, cattle attendants, cattle breeders, cattle dealers, representatives of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), market women, traders, security agencies; sector commander, Agro-ranger(NSCDC), Iseyin zone, State Security Service (SSS), Vigilante Group of Nigeria commandant, Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) factions and Director of Agriculture, Iseyin LGA.
Welcoming participants to the event, the Parish Priest, St John the Baptist Catholic Church Iseyin, Rev Father Adejumo Joseph said, “We must learn how to accommodate one another because Nigeria is a unique country with its unity in diversity.” He added that the meeting is not about tribe or religion affiliations but a forum where stakeholders will brainstorm on the frequent security challenges of farmers-herders conflict that is ravaging Oyo State. According to the priest, “We are here today because of love, unity of purpose and adhere to God’s directive to maintain peace in whatever religion we are practising. We must be a good instrument of peace wherever we find ourselves.
God created us in his image in love regardless of who you are; either as farmers, herdsmen, religious leaders, public servants amongst other” While shedding light on the activities of JDPM, a RUDEP officer, Mr. John Fakorede said that the meeting at Iseyin Zone, covering Oke-Ogun axis, afforded stakeholders opportunity to dialogue on how everyone will live together in peace as the Catholic Church remains committed to holistic human development. “This is not a political event that seeks support from neither the electorate nor a means of converting people to the Catholic faithful. We are not here for that because we realized how unsafe people are becoming in farms, villages, towns. This must stop!” Speaking on the expectations of the forum from stakeholders, a representative of cattle dealers, Oyo zone and erudite scholar, Alhaji Yusuf Awayewaserere noted that as a nation, we need one another to survive because no one can live in isolation.
He said “as farmers,Seriki, Jowuro, cattle dealers, cattle breeders, butchers, crop farmers, market women, traders amongst others, we always need one another. It is understandable that whenever there is illegal grazing on farms, one could become belligerent to retaliate immediately but we must not forget that we cannot take laws into our hand. We need to be proactive in dealing with this type of issue”. During the open session, some participants accused cattle dealers (baranda) of conniving with herders to wreak more havoc on farms because of their selfish desire which would bring more rebase to their pockets.
They also accused most cattle attendants of drug abuse such as tramadol and other stimulants which have continuously influenced their aggravated behaviour. Many herders were also accused of carrying illegal firearms around the farms which have killed many. Responding to the allegations, the assistant Jowuro,Oke-Ogun, Alhaji Saliu Gado said most farmers are responsible for farmers-herder clashes because of their vulgar comment while addressing most cattle attendants (Alagbada) on farms, adding that herders are responsible human beings who will never condone anti-human behaviour towards them.
