The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) FCT Command has warned residents against using blame and ethnicity to trigger clashes between farmers and herders.

This is contained in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday by the command’s spokesperson, Monica Ojobi.

The FCT Commandant, Olusola Odumosu, gave the warning while addressing members of the Herders-Farmers Dispute Resolution Volunteers, who paid him a courtesy visit.

Mr Odumosu said that for peace to be achieved between farmers and herders in the FCT, residents must avoid blame games.

“We must also avoid labelling any particular group, ethnicity or tribe as the one engaging in violent crimes in Nigeria,” he said.

The commandant emphasised the importance of early warning signals, intelligence gathering and non-kinetic approaches in preventing crises before they escalate.

He also stressed the need to put mechanisms in place to improve unity among Nigerians while promoting national consciousness for a vibrant agricultural sector.

“For us in NSCDC, we are determined not to allow them to thrive or succeed, as we will continue to build peaceful initiatives.

“That is what we stand for, and so we will continue to deal decisively with those perpetrating crimes through these clashes,” Mr Odumosu said.

He called for sustained advocacy, reorientation and enlightenment at all levels to reinforce harmony between farmers and herders.

“We must continue to educate, enlighten and reorientate our people to understand that peaceful coexistence is not only possible but necessary,” the command boss added.

Earlier, Mustafa Suleiman, national chairman of Herders and Farmers Dispute Resolution Volunteers, lauded the vital role of the corps in managing conflicts from the grassroots to the national level.

Mr Suleiman said that the efforts of the NSCDC in sustaining peace and security across communities could not be over-emphasised.

(NAN)