ibironkeeniola 
The Ogun State Government has embarked on a “confidence-building mission” to address the increasing spate of herder-farmer clashes in the state.
The government made this disclosure in series of tweets via the state’s official Twitter handle (@OGSGofficial), on Monday.
It said that a government delegation comprising top government officials and representatives of security agencies visited the affected areas on Sunday.
Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Afolabi Afuape, speaking at the palace of Olu Ilaro pointed out that clashes between the farmers and herders are a national problem.
He said, “Government is not happy with what is happening in this area. Government is not happy with what is going on in this part of the State.
“We have come on the instruction of the State Governor to see what can be done to address this crisis because the State government is not happy with what is happening.
“I must stress the need for peaceful co-existence among all our people irrespective of where you come from.
“Though this crisis is a national issue, the government is putting security plans in place to secure the lives of our people in this area”.
Meanwhile, the Eselu of Iselu, Oba Ebenezer Akinyemi, called for the creation of special ranching areas for cattle.
According to him, the herder-farmer clashes have been occasioned by the eating of farm produce, by cattle.
As stakeholders present continued to advocate peace, the Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle suggested the inscription of owners’ names on each cattle.
This, he noted, will make for easy identification of owners, in the case of farm destruction. He called for a meeting between all monarchs, to discuss the issue.
Afuape further stressed the need for the people to be vigilant by reporting strange faces and movements to security officials, as government cannot afford crisis in any part of the state.
SOURCE: AGRONIGERIA