Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello of Niger on Sunday said the government would compensate pastoralists who lost their livestock to activities of cattle rustling in the state.

Mr Sani-Bello disclosed this during a Fulani Cultural Festival organised by the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Fulani Socio-Cultural Association of Nigeria at the Aliyu Ndayoko Memorial Stadium in Bida.

The governor, represented by Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Ahmed Matane, explained that six pastoralists, two each from the state’s three senatorial zones who were victims of cattle rustling, would be identified and compensated with 10 cattle each.

He said the gesture was out of the state government’s will in coming up with initiatives to foster peace and nurture harmonious relationships among the people.

Mr Sani-Bello disclosed that the government had reactivated Bobi Grazing Reserve and others in the state to mitigate the conflicts between farmers and herders.

“The reserves, apart from being a pragmatic and sustainable solution to farmers-herders clashes, will also generate employment opportunities,” he said.

He expressed optimism that the festival would bring harmony and ensure cordial relationships among people from diverse backgrounds.

Yahaya Abubakar, Etsu Nupe and chairman of the state Council of Traditional Rulers, reiterated the need for peaceful co-existence between herders and farmers, urging them to always be law-abiding citizens.

The national president of Miyetti Allah Kautal Horse Fulani Socio-Cultural Association, Bello Badejo, represented by Gidado Idris, called for peaceful co-existence among farmers and herders, adding that unity of purpose would help to achieve the desired economic prosperity.

The director-general, Nomadic Affairs and Conflict Resolution in the state, Ardo Babayo, expressed confidence that the event would be a turning point in the inter-ethnic relationship in the Bida emirate and the state as a whole.

(NAN)