In a recent interview on News Central TV, Nigerian lawyer and public affairs analyst Liborous Oshoma raised concerns over the destruction of farmlands by herders who allow their cattle to graze indiscriminately.
Oshoma, who described the situation as alarming revealed that he had seen video evidence of herders uprooting cassava plants to feed their cows.
“I saw some videos where herdsmen were uprooting people’s cassava to feed to their cows. Do you know that sometimes, if that happens to your farm, it might even kill you?” he said, emphasizing the devastating impact on farmers’ livelihoods.
His comments highlight the long-standing conflict between farmers and herders in Nigeria, where disputes over grazing lands have led to violent clashes, loss of lives and economic hardship. Oshoma stressed the need for urgent discussions on ranching as a sustainable solution. “We need to discuss the issue of ranching. That’s somebody’s business,” he stated.
The call for ranching is not new in Nigeria, but implementation has been slow due to political, economic, and social factors. Many experts have suggested that proper ranching policies could reduce conflicts, improve livestock management, and boost agricultural productivity.
Farmers across the country have repeatedly complained about the destruction of their crops by wandering cattle, leading to food shortages and economic losses. Several states have enacted anti-open grazing laws but enforcement remains a challenge.
With tensions still high in many rural communities, analysts believe that a structured approach to cattle rearing including ranching and proper land use policies, could help mitigate the crisis.
Oshoma’s remarks add to the growing calls for the government to take decisive action in addressing the farmer-herder conflicts.