The Oyo State Government has disclosed its plans to establish ranches to stem the increasing waves of clashes between farmers and herdsmen in the state.

The Commissioner for Special Duties, Mudashiru Abdulganiyu said this in Ibadan at a workshop on Conflict Prevention and Peaceful Coexistence.

Abdulganiyu explained that all stakeholders were being carried along in the plan as violent conflicts between herdsmen and farmers were not healthy for peaceful coexistence in the state.

The commissioner buttressed further that “the state government is considering the issue of ranches so that the herdsmen will not just be going out uncontrolled and destroying people’s farms. Establishing ranches is part of the agreed policy that the government is trying to bring up so that it will minimize the conflict between herdsmen and farmers. Government has some agencies that are looking into the issue of ranches, which normally mediate in conflicts between the herdsmen and the farmers alongside traditional rulers of the various areas.”

According to PM News, the commissioner commended the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for organizing a workshop on Conflict Prevention, Tolerance and Peaceful Coexistence.

He noted that it is impressive to have traditional rulers in attendance, he identified them as important stakeholders in the resolution of conflicts and peace-building in the society. He added that this is to ascertain that they are in support of creating ranches in the state which is a major way to ensure peaceful coexistence among people in the state.