According to the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Catherine Anene, the police have intercepted and arrested a syndicate of four people, including one Terwase Nyion, who were conspiring with criminal herders to rustle cattle and share the proceeds. The syndicate then went back to the same herders and falsely claimed that their cattle were rustled by farmers, causing more unrest and looting. The police seized one locally made pistol loaded with one round of 9 mm live ammunition and four cows from the suspects.
In a separate incident, the police received information that hoodlums had attacked herders grazing in Tarkaa Local Government Area and made away with some cattle. Police detectives immediately stormed the hideout and arrested five suspects, including Mercy Iyio who was preparing cow meat in the kitchen.
The state Commissioner of Police, Wale Abass, condemned the mischievous acts that instigate crises in the area and called on all stakeholders to collaborate with the police to maintain peace. He also urged herders and farmers to report their cases to the police for proper handling instead of taking the law into their own hands.
The conflicts between herdsmen and farmers have been ongoing in Nigeria, causing loss of lives and property. The situation has been worsened by the involvement of criminal elements who have been using the crises as an opportunity for their own gain. The police have been working to identify and arrest these criminal elements to bring an end to the conflicts.
The Benue State Government has also been working to find a lasting solution to the crises. In February 2023, the government launched the Benue State Anti-Open Grazing and Ranches Establishment Law to regulate livestock farming in the state. The law prohibits the open grazing of cattle and other livestock and mandates the establishment of ranches for cattle rearing.
The law has been welcomed by many farmers who have suffered losses due to open grazing. However, it has been met with resistance from some herders who argue that they cannot afford the cost of establishing ranches. The government has assured herders that it will provide assistance to establish ranches and comply with the law.
The conflicts between herdsmen and farmers have also been a source of concern for the international community. In March 2023, the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, expressed his concern about the escalating violence in Nigeria and called for an end to the conflicts. He urged the Nigerian government to take urgent action to address the root causes of the crises.
The conflicts have also led to a humanitarian crisis, with thousands of people displaced from their homes. The United Nations and other aid organisations have been providing assistance to those affected by the conflicts.
It is important for all stakeholders to work together to find a lasting solution to the conflicts between herdsmen and farmers in Nigeria. The government must ensure that its policies and actions promote peace and address the root causes of the crises. The police must continue to identify and arrest criminal elements who are fueling the conflicts. Herders and farmers must also work together to find common ground and resolve their differences peacefully.