The Presidency Sunday pleaded with Nigerians and the international community to exercise restraint in making inflammatory remarks over Farmers/herders clashes, saying President Muhammadu Buhari does not discriminate against any people or religion.
The Presidency also reiterated that Farmers/herders clashes had been and an age-long matter, even as it noted that President Buhari was making every effort to put to an end to the animosity between farmers and herders.
In a statement by Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, the Presidency noted that climate change had become one of the contributing factors to the recent upsurge of clashes between farmers and herdsmen.
The statement read, “The Presidency is appealing to all citizens as well as members of the international community to refrain from spreading false stories and inflammatory statements concerning the recent herders-farmers’ clashes.
“The Nigerian government is working closely with state governments and the security services as well as international partners in order to resolve this ongoing issue.
“The clashes between herders and farmers are historical. The causes of these confrontations are varied and complex.
“Climate change, specifically the drying up of the Chad Basin, has led to more pressure on the population in the North of Nigeria, which further compounded the problem.
“As President Buhari indicated lately, there is evidence of involvement of some politicians using criminals to perpetuate the killings.
“Climate change is an issue of global significance and the Nigerian government is determined to continue working closely with its neighbours in order to ensure that a long-term solution can be implemented.
“The Federal Government makes no distinction among the population and works tirelessly to protect all Nigerian people.
“We are strongest as a nation when we are united and it is through unity that we will overcome this challenge.”
