By Johnbosco Agbakwuru
ABUJA – THE Presidency on Sunday pleaded with Nigerians and the international community to exercise restrain in making inflammatory remarks over farmers/herders clashes, saying that President Muhammadu Buhari does not discriminate against any people or religion.

herdsmen killings

The Presidency also reiterated that the farmers/herders clashes have been old long matter even as he said that President Buhari was making every efforts to put to an end the animosity between farmers and herders.

The Presidency in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu noted that climate change has become one of the contributing factors to the recent upsurge of clashes between farmers and cattle herdsmen.

The statement read, “The Presidency is appealing to all its citizens as well as members of the international community to refrain from spreading false stories and inflammatory statements concerning the recent herder-farmer 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.”

On the contributing factor of recent clashes, Shehu in the statement said, “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 amongst 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.”