Only Dialogue Can Solve Herders/Farmers’ Crises – IG

The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has said that dialogue remains the only genuine approach to resolve the herdsmen/farmers’ crises across the country.
He said there was the need for Nigerians to shun inciting statements and stop playing politics with the crises.
The IG stated this on Thursday in Lagos at the public presentation of his book, titled, “Security and Justice: The Pathway for Peace and Reconciliation in Nigeria.”
Idris, however, maintained that the police and other security agencies had intensified efforts to arrest and prosecute perpetrators of the killings.
He said the book identified various security challenges in the country, including the Boko Haram insurgency, kidnappings and cattle rustling and recommended timely prosecution and reconciliation as means of ensuring justice and peace in Nigeria.
He said, “These challenges, if not properly managed at the pace we are going, coupled with inflammatory and inciting statements, will tear this country apart and drag us into an unending crisis. I am quite conscious that it is my responsibility as the IG, to put sufficient security architecture in place to manage the challenges and I can say with confidence that preventive and detective strategies have been put in place.
“…ethnic strife, religious and other crises can be avoided and peaceful coexistence and genuine reconciliation attained when the citizens feel secure and have a sense of justice and fairness. For instance, the case of farmers/herders’ clashes is generating a lot of concern in Nigeria, especially in the recent clashes in Benue, Taraba, Adamawa states and other parts of the country.
“It is true that the President (Muhammadu Buhari) has mandated me and other security agencies to take appropriate steps to ensure the arrest and prosecution of the offenders. This directive is being pursued with zeal but of utmost importance is that we must engage ourselves in serious conversation, avoid inflammatory comments or play politics with the issue. This is the only way the country can secure genuine reconciliation among herders and farmers so that they can once again live in peace, harmony, love and avoid unnecessary loss of lives.”
In his address, the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, said the current security challenges were envisaged about two decades ago, adding that the government was advised then to look into the country’s porous borders.