Gombe Resurveys, Redesigns 37 Cattle Routes to Prevent Farmer-Herder Crises

Gombe State has begun resurveying and remapping 37 cattle routes and eight grazing reserves to stop recurring clashes between farmers and herders.

Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s administration rolled out the initiative under the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project to foster peaceful coexistence and boost agricultural productivity.

Prof. Usman Bello Abubakar, L-PRES State Coordinator, said the government took action after repeated disputes over routes and farmlands.

Some farmers had encroached on designated cattle paths, and herders had allowed livestock into farmers’ fields, he noted.

Barrister Naomi Abdu Mwalin, Social Safeguard Officer for the project, led a lot delegation to Kunji village in Yamaltu-Deba LGA.

She and accompanying security officials, traditional rulers, and pastoral leader Ardo Chindo surveyed complaints of encroachment and farmland damage.

“The disturbance arose after some farmers were accused of farming on grazing paths, while herders were blamed for letting their cattle wander into farmlands and destroy crops.”

Abubakar emphasized that the State government must ensure durable solutions to maintain peace.

He explained that remapping the cattle routes and demarcating grazing reserves will help communities and herders by clarifying boundaries and reducing disputes.

The government pledged to keep engaging stakeholders so that remapping does not just remain on paper but yields real reduction in conflict and protects both farmland and grazing paths.