As part of efforts to curb the incessant clashes between farmers and herdsmen in Nasarawa State, an 18-man disciplinary committee has been set up in Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area to monitor and punish any herdsman found disturbing the peace.

The committee was set up following a meeting between leaders of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, MACABA, and the Eggon Cultural and Development Association, ECDA, on Saturday in Nasarawa Eggon, Nasarawa State.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the ECDA is also required to set up similar committee to  identify trouble makers in the community, and take appropriate action to preserve the peace.

At the meeting, excessive alcohol consumption as well as hard drugs among youth were identified as the major causes of violence between communities in the area.

Participants at the meeting called on the state government to place a ban on the sale of hard drugs and close down outlets where such activities go on.

The Nasarawa state chairman of MACABA, Muhammad Hussaini, and the ECDA President, James Manza, in their separate speeches restated their commitment to jointly preach peace to their members.

They agreed that peaceful co-existence between farmers and the herdsmen was necessary to boost agricultural enterprise especially in the face of harsh economic realities in the country.

The two leaders urged their members to live peacefully with one another and report anyone engaged in acts that would compromise the peace and stability of the community.

Akolo Success-Ahmed, the Chairman, Interim Management Committee of the local government, commended representatives of the farmers and herdsmen for embracing dialogue in settling their differences.

He said:“As a politician and a stakeholder, my role is to preach peace, unity and to advise my subjects and others Nigerians to live in peace and tolerate one another irrespective of ethnic, religion and political affiliation for the overall development of the country.

“Because no nation or society can develop in an atmosphere of rancour and confusion.

“The security challenges facing some parts of the country had affected our lives and socio-economic development of the country negatively.”