The Niger State Director General of Nomadic Affairs, Mr. Abdullahi Babayo, has admonished herdsmen and farmers, who are in illegal possession of firearms in the state, to submit same to their community leaders for onward submission to the police.

Mr. Abdullahi Babayo said any farmer or herdsman caught in illegal possession of firearms would face the wrath of the law.

According to Mr. Abdullahi Babayo, there is a plan by government to embark on a house-to-house search for illegal firearms.

Mr. Abdullahi Babayo sounded this note of warning on Thursday in Minna in a chat with Northern City News.

He blamed the rising clashes between farmers and herdsmen in the state on the breakdown of mutual understanding.

He said the Niger State Government had received vital information that some herdsmen and farmers in the state were in possession of firearms that were illegally acquired.

Babayo, however, stated that the government was committed to ensuring peaceful coexistence between the two groups and advised them to live in peace with one another.

“The mutual understanding and harmonious coexistence between the herdsmen and farmers has a long history and one wonders why the relationship went bad, but the government would no longer accept such destruction of lives and farm produce in the state under its watch,” Babayo said.

He said government would use the necessary apparatus to clamp down on any group or persons fomenting  trouble in the state.

Mr. Abdullahi Babayo added, “It is in your own interest to avoid acts that may be inimical to the peace and security of the state. There is a need for them to always see themselves as partners that need the service of each other for the socio-economic and political development of the state.”

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