A video of a Fulani herdsman with a good command of English has proposed solutions to the farmer-herder conflict.
The herder, who refers to himself as Ibrahim, said he understands pain and frustration that farmers feel when cattle invade their farms and destroy their crops.
He added that he too feels deep pain if anyone beats or harms his cow.
He acknowledged that he is aware that many of his colleagues leave their cattle to wander into people’s farms and destroy their crops and means of livelihood.
He however, said violence is not the solution.
He said when the farmers respond by k!lling or harming the cows, the herders mostly escalate the situation.
Ibrahim advised farmers to report such herders to the authorities, instead of resorting to violence.
He also advised his fellow herdsmen to try to compensate farmers if their cattle destroyed their crops.
The herder urged parties to “Please, believe me, it’s not all Fulanis that allow their cows to spoil other’s farm. It’s not all Fulanis. I know there are the bad ones among us that allow their cows to spoil you guys’ farms. It’s very bad. I know you guys must feel the pain because apart from farming, you don’t have any other business. Like us Fulanis, apart from following cows, we don’t have any other business.
“But I have one advice for you guys, any time that you catch a Fulani man destroying your farm, please, don’t beat him. Just arrest him.”
He said whenever his cow destroys a farm, he finds the owner of the farm and apologises. He said some farmers forgive while others ask him to pay for the damage and he pays.
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