The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has called on Nigerians to control the movement of their livestock as part of efforts to end recurring clashes between farmers and herders across the country.
Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja during a briefing ahead of the **Maiden African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit**, scheduled for August 25–27, Gen. Musa stressed that ranching—or any designated system for keeping animals—remains the most viable solution to the conflict.
“We must stop killing animals. Traditionally, when an animal strayed into a farm, we would arrest it, the owner would pay a fine, and then take it back. That understanding has now been eroded,” he said.
The CDS lamented that the age-old relationship between farmers and herders has broken down, leading to deadly confrontations in many communities.
“It is important we get areas where we can keep these animals. They are better off when kept on a ranch. If you don’t want to call it ranching, call it whatever you want, but provide an area where they don’t need to move around,” he added.
The farmers-herders conflict has remained one of Nigeria’s most persistent security challenges, with disputes over grazing land and crop damage often escalating into violence.
The upcoming African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit, Gen. Musa said, will provide an opportunity for military leaders across the continent to share strategies on peace and security, including addressing root causes of local conflicts such as this.
