By Samson Obande,  Lafia

Stakeholders of the Agbashi Community in the Ekye Area Administrative Council of Nasarawa State have expressed readiness to address the perennial clashes between herders and farmers in the locality.

They expressed the commitment during an expanded security meeting held at the Agbashi Youth Centre on Saturday.

The meeting was convened by Retired Brigadier General Ebu Jafaru Agbashi, a member of the Nasarawa State Security Advisory Committee, and brought together traditional and community leaders, youth groups, farmers, religious leaders, security agencies and representatives of the Fulani community.

Retired Brigadier General Ebu Jafaru Agbashi said the State Security Advisory Committee was concerned about the recurring farmers-herders conflict and had come to understand its root causes and work with stakeholders towards finding lasting solutions.

Representing the Otusho of Agbashi, the District Head of Agbashi, Alhaji Adamu Ogah, commended Governor Abdullahi Sule for responding to the community’s security concerns, calling for urgent measures to preserve peace and protect farmlands from further encroachment.

The Ardo of Fulani in Agbashi, Isa Shu’aibu, who acknowledged concerns over farm encroachment and pledged the cooperation of Fulani leaders in addressing the problem, however alleged that some herders from outside the community were operating without his knowledge.

Similarly, the Agbashi Youth Leader, Baba Olose, and Chairman of the Farmers Association, Omadefu Obande John, also attributed the growing tension to the activities of alleged intruders, including night grazing. They appealed to the authorities to take appropriate measures to address the influx of such elements, which they said had contributed to growing tension in the community.

Security agencies at the meeting assured residents of their commitment to maintaining peace and bringing anyone found violating the law to justice.

Other stakeholders, including former Nasarawa State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Gabriel Agbashi, Alhaji Ibrahim Olose, Moses Adikwu, and Dr. Yakubu Abdul, urged farmers and herders to respect one another, fear God and sustain peaceful coexistence.

At the end of the meeting, stakeholders resolved to strengthen collaboration among the community, Fulani leadership and security agencies to prevent further conflict, calling for sustained engagement and strict enforcement of existing laws to address the recurring crisis and prevent it from escalating into a wider security challenge.

Meanwhile, Retired Brigadier General Ebu Jafaru Agbashi has donated essential equipment to Agbashi General Hospital to support healthcare service delivery in the community.

The items include wheelchairs, solar-powered standing fans and thermometers, intended to improve patient comfort and support the work of healthcare personnel.

Receiving the donation, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Mambut Kumbin, expressed appreciation to the retired General for the gesture.

Dr. Kumbin thanked God for preserving the General’s life throughout his years of service to the nation and urged him to continue bringing his experience and resources to bear on the development of the community, assuring the donor that the equipment would be put to judicious use.