By Ola Ajayi

IBADAN—AS a step towards ensuring lasting peace between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in the South West, the leadership of Fulani has set up a surveillance committee that would mitigate losses incurred by the farmers.

This was disclosed by the leader of the Fulani Community in the South West, the Sardaunan Yamma, Alhaji Haruna Maiyasin, who is also the Sarkin Sasa of Ibadanland, at a meeting between Fulani herdsmen and farmers from Iwo, Osun State, in his Sasa Palace, Ibadan.

There had been constant crises between the two parties with farmers alleging that the cattle rearers used their crops to graze their animals. The Fulani, on the other hand, accused the farmers of poisoning their crops and water sources leading to the death of their cattle.

Just last week, some farmers from Ido Local Government area of the state threatened reprisals accusing herdsmen of destroying their crops leaving them with nothing.

The formation of the committee is the fulfilment of part of the promises made by Alhaji Maiyasin,  at a peace meeting brokered by the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Leye Oyebade, some weeks ago.

According to Maiyasin, the committee is saddled with the responsibility of liaising with the affected farmers and herdsmen to know details of their grouse and find ways to soothe frayed nerves.

The surveillance committee, he added, will also assess the level of destruction of such farms and work out compensation for the victims.

Alhaji Maiyasin noted that the step would produce an enduring solution to the incessant clashes between the two parties.

He further stressed that this was better than some inflammatory calls from some quarters for reprisal attacks on one another.

While advising Fulani parents to monitor their wards and warn them against involving themselves in criminal tendencies, he assured that nothing would tamper with the peaceful co-existence  between his men and the farmers.

Speaking at the meeting, the leader of the Fulani Community in Osun State, Alhaji Sulaiman Oluwatoyin, commended governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, for the mature way he handled the issue of Fulani herdsmen in his state.