Adamawa tasks troubled communities on peace

To resolve the farmers-herders crisis, the European Union (EU) has granted €10.5 million to contain the menace in Taraba and Adamawa states through the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Nigeria.

IOM Chief of Mission, Pace Paola, disclosed this at a meeting with stakeholders on ‘Contributing to the Mitigation of Conflict over Natural Resources between Farmers and Herder Communities in Taraba and Adamawa States, Nigeria (COMITAS), hosted by the IOM, Mercy Corps and Search for Common Ground, yesterday, in Abuja.

Her words: “IOM is proud to have facilitated policy dialogues on the National Climate Change Policy of Nigeria, (by) ensuring that local voices were represented in the shaping of climate adaptation priorities. This is critical to ensuring the progress we have made under COMITAS remains sustainable and forward-looking.”

“On behalf of IOM, I extend my deepest gratitude to the European Union for their EUR 10.5 million grant through the foreign policy instrument, which made this project possible.”

She pointed out that COMITAS has been a collaborative endeavour with partners and the local communities in Adamawa and Taraba states, where the project is currently ongoing.

EU Political Officer, Politics, Press and Information Section, Agnieszka Torres Del Oliveira, said the bloc was impressed by Adamawa State governor, Ahmadu Fintiri’s affirming the positive impacts the project had made in the state, especially in boosting agriculture.

Also speaking, Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr Jeji Williams, acknowledged that the dedication and resilience of IOM and its partners in sustaining the project over the years had led to reduced conflicts between farming and herding communities in his state.

He expressed optimism that more would be achieved in terms of peace restoration in the remaining affected communities.

IN the meantime, the Adamawa State government has urged the troubled community of Kukta in Song Local Council to sustain renewed peace in the aftermath of recent violence between farmers and herders.

Given the new development, the Deputy Governor, Prof Kaletapwa Farauta, accompanied by other officials, visited survivors at the Dumne General Hospital and consoled affected families.

She implored the Yungur and Fulani communities to restore their long-standing tradition of peaceful coexistence.

The deputy governor commended security forces for their swift response and presence at strategic locations towards ensuring ongoing peace in the region.

She also called for the strengthening of the Community Peace Dialogue, a local initiative aimed at preventing future clashes.

The Commissioner of Police, Morris Dankombo, warned against vigilantism, pledging that those responsible would face justice.

He said investigations were underway to identify the remote and immediate causes of the recent clash.