Rivers State Government Takes Steps to Ease Farmer-Herder Tensions

The Rivers State Government has established a committee to address recurring clashes between farmers and herders, which have resulted in loss of lives, displacement, and economic disruption.

State Secretary Professor Ibibia Worika, who chairs the committee, emphasized the importance of fostering dialogue, promoting justice, and ensuring peaceful coexistence among inhabitants.

The committee’s mandate includes identifying early warning signs of tension, mediating disputes, and advising the government on sustainable land use and resource management strategies. Its composition reflects an inclusive approach, featuring representatives from traditional institutions, security agencies, farmers’ associations, herders, civil society groups, and relevant ministries.

Worika urged the committee to act with wisdom, fairness, and diligence, stressing that their task goes beyond conflict prevention to building trust and partnerships between communities that sustain the state’s economy and peace. The Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Agriculture will serve as the committee’s secretary.

This initiative aims to promote mutual understanding and peaceful engagement through community sensitization and advocacy, ensuring that grazing and farming activities are conducted within the bounds of law and environmental sustainability.