UGHELLI/Nigeria: The Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice, (CEPEJ), has in other to curb the continuous conflict between Herders and Farmers organised a roundtable meeting between the two groups from Ethiope-East and Ndokwa-East Local Government Areas of Delta State.
The event which was held on Thursday, March 30, 2023 in Ughelli, called on Nigerians, to be part of Herders-Farmer’s peace building initiative, urging the public to shun violence and enhance peaceful coexistence between the herders and farmers.
The programme which was funded by Foundation for Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta -PIND noted that both the religious leader, farmers, herders and other associations in the state have roles to play in achieving the desired peaceful atmosphere.
Attributing the discrepancies between the herders and farmers to perception and inadequate communication, the body urged the public to change their perceptions toward the herdsmen, noting that herders are different from bandits.
CEPEJ further identified resource control, changing tendencies in cattle rustlers, communication barrier and political instability to include the causes of unrest between farmers and herdsmen.
While saying that the different measures put in place by federal government to curb the excesses have not yielded the required result, the body said sincerity of unity of mind and purpose would elicit lasting solution to herders-farmers conflict.
It further urged the masses to seek legal means to avenge attack, noting dialogue is the key pattern to validate peace.
Speaking with Africa Investigative Magazine after the meeting, the national coordinator, CEPEJ, Chief (Comrade) Sheriff Mulade, said the body is a non-governmental organization with a focus to peace building across the globe.
According to him, CEPEJ which is committed to providing a sustainable peaceful and conducive environment for the species dwelling on it came into existence over twenty years ago.
He said, “Centre For Environmental Peace and Justice (CEPEJ) as the name implies is a non governmental, non political and non religious organization with a focus on promoting and building peace across the globe with a special focus in Nigeria.
“When you look at the other section, we have three sections there. You also see where we talk about environment. We need to create an environment that is conducive for human and other species that live on it. The third aspect is human and creative rights. That is the three thematic categories of CEPEJ.”
He added that the Stakeholders program is organized to sustain the existing peace in the State. According to him, the leadership of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa “signed an Open Anti Grazing Bill into law but unfortunately, there was no political will to enforce it. That’s why we have pockets of conflicts everywhere.
“We are doing this stepdown training to sensitize the elders, herders-farmers on the need to live in peace; to live together and trade together. The community also need peace, because if these two traders are in conflict, it will be difficult for the community to be in peace,” he said.
The highlights of occasion tagged; ‘Mitigating Herders-Farmers Conflicts Management For Sustainable Peace & Development Project’ were delivery of lectures and awareness creation on Herders-Farmers Conflicts as well as how to resolve it.
The event also witnessed the Ndokwa East and Ethiope East Local Government Areas participants shared their experiences on their encounters with herdsmen with regards to destruction of farm produce.
It was, however, attended by the Officer Incharge of Department of State Service, Ndokwa East LGA, Mr. Elisha Israel, and Coordinator of National Orientation Agency, Ndokwa East LGA, Sir Ben U. Avery.
Others were Head of Department, Community Development, Ndokwa East LGA, Mrs. Chibogu Josphine, Head of Department, Community Development, Ethiope East LGA, Mrs. Sarah Johnny and representatives of different organizations.
