An academic, media analyst and consultant, Dr. John Ngamsa, has raised the alarm over the number of lives that have been lost as a result of persistent clashes between farmers and herders in Adamawa state and other parts of the country.
Ngamsa, a lecturer with Modibbo Adama University Yola said, about 305 people have already lost their lives to a spate of preventable farmer-herder violence in Adamawa state.
John Ngamsa said that based on an analysis of press reports, at least 305 people were killed in herder-Farner-related clashes in Adamawa State between 2016 and 2021.
Ngamsa made the remarks at an interactive session hosted by Ramo Multimedia Center in Yola, Adamawa state.
John Ngamsa explained that, “These senseless clashes between farmers and herders in the region have been ongoing since the early 2000s, with a surge in violence in recent years.
“The persistent farmer-herder conflicts in Demsa Local Government Area (LGA) of Adamawa State, Nigeria, have had devastating consequences, including loss of lives, properties, and livestock.
“According to an analysis of press reports, at least 305 people were killed in herder-Farner-related clashes in Adamawa State between 2016 and 2021.”
Ngamsa, a member of the Adamawa Committee on Farmer-herder conflict in Adamwa state said, the Adamawa state Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri must be commended for putting his feet on the ground to ensure a lasting peace is enjoyed in the state.
He said, “Governor Fintiri has been the driving force behind the success of the activities of this committee and we have been working hard to ensure an enduring structure for peace is set in place and that all Adamawa people feel protected, safe and secure to go about their daily activities.”
The scholar submitted that, “The relationship between manageable farmer-herder disputes and spirals of inter-communal violence is complex, and the current climate of violence is unprecedented in modern times.
“While the surge in farmer-herder violence has been concentrated in Nigeria, there are also hotspots in central Mali, northern Burkina Faso, and parts of the Central African Republic.
“This highlights the importance of understanding the local and regional factors that have contributed to violent outcomes and the need for peaceful resolution of conflicts.”
Ngamsa said, “The Adamawa State Government has expressed its commitment to ensuring peace in the state and has welcomed initiatives that offer solutions to the farmers-herders conflict.
“Resolving the conflicts between farmers and herders is crucial for the overall development and well-being of the affected people.”