MILITARY URGES FARMERS, HERDERS TO EMBRACE DIALOGUE, FORGIVENESS IN KADUNA
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By: Fasasi Hammad
The Nigerian military has called for sustained dialogue, forgiveness and cooperation among farmers, herders and youths to address recurring conflicts and promote peaceful coexistence in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The call was made on Saturday during the fourth edition of a stakeholders’ security seminar organised by the Joint Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace, in the community.
The seminar, themed “Bridging the Divide: Uniting Farmers, Herders and Youth for a Prosperous Community,” brought together traditional and religious leaders, community representatives, women, youths and security agencies to discuss practical solutions to conflicts affecting livelihoods and community relations.
Speaking at the event, the General Officer Commanding, 3 Division, Nigerian Army, and Commander of Operation Enduring Peace, Major General Maxwell Dangana, said the root causes of conflicts must be addressed through dialogue, forgiveness and collective responsibility.
Dangana stressed that farmers, herders and other community members should be able to pursue their legitimate economic activities without fear, intimidation or violence, particularly during the farming season.
He said the seminar provided an opportunity for stakeholders to identify the causes of conflict, exchange ideas and develop practical strategies to tackle criminality and promote mutual understanding.
According to him, previous editions of the initiative had contributed to reducing clashes and the destruction of farmlands by approximately 70 per cent, based on available statistics.
He added that sustaining the progress would require continuous engagement and stronger cooperation among community leaders, security agencies and residents.
Dangana also emphasised the importance of compassion, apologies and forgiveness in rebuilding trust, urging offenders to acknowledge their wrongdoing as part of efforts to restore damaged relationships.
He called on traditional, religious and community leaders to organise regular meetings and encourage residents, particularly young people, to embrace tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
The military commander noted that security remained essential to agricultural productivity, economic growth and sustainable development.
As part of the event, Dangana commissioned operational vehicles and motorcycles at Sub-Sector 71, Sanga, to improve troop mobility and operational capacity within the joint operations area.
He also presented motorcycles to some community leaders to strengthen cooperation between residents and security personnel, particularly in information sharing and intelligence gathering.
Dangana described the initiative as part of Operation Enduring Peace’s non-kinetic approach, which complements military operations with dialogue, community engagement and other peacebuilding measures.
Also speaking, the member representing Jema’a/Sanga Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Daniel Amos, described the military’s peacebuilding initiative as a collaborative effort that was yielding positive results in the area.
Amos said the longstanding tensions between farmers and herders required sustained intervention, noting that achieving lasting peace would take time because of the region’s history of conflict.
While acknowledging the progress recorded in Sanga, he said more efforts were needed to achieve lasting stability.
He urged traditional rulers to intensify engagement with their communities and promote peaceful coexistence, warning that the conflicts must not be allowed to undermine relationships among residents from different backgrounds.
Amos also called for stronger collaboration among the military, government officials, community leaders and other stakeholders to consolidate existing peace efforts.
Similarly, the Chairman of Sanga Local Government Area, Yakubu Usman Anto, highlighted the need to address youth restiveness through sustained engagement and employment opportunities.
Anto urged community leaders to maintain regular communication with young people, while calling on the government to intensify efforts to create jobs and address factors that could contribute to insecurity.
Resource persons at the seminar, Dr Daniel Amba and the Chief Imam of Kafanchan Central Mosque, Sheikh Mohammed Kabir Kasim, identified factors contributing to conflicts and called for stronger community cohesion.
They emphasised the need for practical measures to bridge divisions among farmers, herders and youths while promoting mutual understanding and peaceful relations.
The Commander of Sub-Sector 71, Sanga, Lieutenant Colonel M. Galadima, said recurring clashes between farmers and herders remained a major concern that required consistent dialogue, public sensitisation and efforts to change attitudes among affected groups.
Galadima warned that insecurity could undermine agricultural productivity and broader economic development, particularly when farmers and herders were unable to carry out their activities peacefully.
He stressed the need for continued engagement to support a peaceful and productive 2026 harvest season, urging participants to share their experiences and work towards sustainable solutions.
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