Amid a deepening national security crisis marked by recent mass school kidnappings and persistent violence, President Bola Tinubu has issued a strong directive calling on herders to abandon open grazing, surrender all illegal weapons, and embrace ranching as the new, mandatory strategy for sustainable livestock farming.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the President stressed that the Federal Government is actively prioritizing sustainable solutions to resolve the long-standing and often deadly confrontations between herders and farming communities, clashes that have fueled instability across several northern and central states.
This admonition comes as Nigeria grapples with a surge in school kidnappings in Niger, Kebbi, and other parts of the country, alongside ongoing farmer–herder violence in the North Central region that has left scores dead in recent months.
The President unequivocally stated: “Ranching is now the path forward for sustainable livestock farming and national harmony.”
Tinubu urged all herder associations to seize this opportunity, end the practice of open grazing, and surrender any illegal weapons they possess. He noted that farmer–herder clashes have consistently fueled insecurity, from land disputes to deadly confrontations, particularly in the Middle Belt.
Highlighting the recent creation of the Ministry of Livestock as a key component of the administration’s long-term plan, Tinubu urged herder associations to collaborate with the ministry, modernize livestock production methods, and fully embrace ranch-based operations.
The new livestock policy, he said, aims to protect both farmers and herders while simultaneously easing land-use tensions. To support this massive transition, Tinubu added that the Federal Government, in partnership with state governments, will provide the necessary frameworks for ranch establishment and implement stringent measures to curb the circulation of illegal arms.
Separately, the Edo State Government announced on Wednesday that it has intensified security across the state following direct threats from a self-proclaimed bandit operating in the Edo Central Senatorial District.
In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Fred Itua, the government assured residents of adequate protection. The governor convened a high-level security meeting in direct response to a viral video showing the alleged bandit threatening communities around Ekpoma and adjoining areas.
The state also noted that the Edo State Special Security Squad recently recorded a success with the arrest of two suspected kidnappers, Anthony Fedigha Ebimienwei and Luke Disemoh, in the Egbai Community, Ovia North-East LGA, following “high-level, intelligence-driven surveillance.”
Governor Okpebholo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring the safety of residents, commuters, and investors. The state government urged citizens to remain calm, vigilant, and cooperative, warning against spreading misinformation or unverified content.
President Tinubu also called on mosques and churches, especially in vulnerable areas, to coordinate closely with security agencies to ensure protection during prayers and gatherings.
