Herdsmen appeal for grazing land in Cross River

The Hausa/Fulani community in Cross River has appealed to Ben Ayade, governor of Cross River, to allocate a portion of land to herdsmen in the state in order to enable them graze their cattle.

Sani Baba-Gombe, leader of the association in the state, made the appeal on Wednesday in an interview with NAN in Calabar.

According to Baba-Gombe, the land if allocated will put an end to the crisis between herdsmen and farmers in the state.

He said the land would help the herdsmen to stop encroaching into people’s farmlands in search of food for their animals.

He said that one of the main challenges facing herdsmen in the state was a grazing land, hence the need for the state government to come to their aid.

“We use to instruct our people to always ask for permission before entering into any land to graze,” he said.

“If I were to be a farmer, I won’t be pleased if any cattle come along to destroy my crops.

“If a grazing land is provided, the animals would not stray into farms and this would further prevent any future crisis between herdsmen and farmers in the state.

“All we are appealing for is a grazing land that is different from the farmlands; this would help us to stop encroaching into people’s farmlands in search of food for our cattle.

“We have also sensitised our people to always have a good understanding with their host communities.”

He said herdsmen in the state were tired of moving their cattle from one place to the other in search of food for them, hence the appeal for a reserved land for them.