Herdsman (picture credit score: BBC)
Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed has refuted claims that the incessant herdsmen killings within the nation has a non secular undertone.
Mohammed stated this on Thursday at a Town Hall assembly organized by the Federal Government in Abuja.
According to him, most of these concerned within the crises between herders and farmers are Muslims and as such, couldn't be stated to be combating a non secular battle.
“For those who might be tempted to view the clashes between farmers and herdsmen from the ethno-religious prism, I will cite two instances to debunk such postulation. Zamfara state is probably the epicentre of cattle rustling in Nigeria,” the minister added.
“Those who rustle cattle are Muslims. The house owners of the cattle they rustle are Muslims. Both teams almost certainly belong to the identical ethnic group.
“Then, there may be the case of Kebbi state, the place 70 % of those that are in jail are there because of the clashes between farmers and herdsmen.
“The farmers whose crops are eaten by cows are Muslim Fulani, and the herders whose cows eat the crops are Muslim Fulani, identical faith; identical ethnicity.
“Yet, clashes still occur, to such a level that people land in jail. I have cited these examples so that we can be open to interrogating the real causes of the incessant clashes that have captured national and international attention and turned former neighbours to bitter enemies, so that together we can help to evolve a lasting solution to this crisis.”