By Awyetu Asabe Hope
The Katsina State Government, in partnership with Mercy Corps, has convened a two-day community dialogue to prevent recurring farmer-herder clashes during the rainy season.
The initiative brought together about 200 stakeholders, including farmers, pastoralists, traditional rulers, religious leaders and civil servants, to discuss lasting solutions to the conflict.
Speaking at the forum on Thursday, the Commissioner for Livestock and Grazing Reserve, Ahmed Mohammed Bakori, said the engagement was part of proactive efforts to prevent tensions associated with the farming season.
Bakori said the programme is supported by the International Organization for Migration and the Centre for Democracy and Development under the European Union-funded Conflict Prevention, Crisis Response and Resilience initiative.
He noted that insecurity in the state, including banditry and kidnapping, is rooted within communities and requires collective action.
“The insecurity we are witnessing is rooted within the community.
Those involved often live together, so peace must also be built collectively,” he said.
Participants also discussed strategies to strengthen early warning systems and improve crisis response mechanisms ahead of the peak farming season.
