The protracted crisis between herdsmen and natives of southern Kaduna in Nigeria’s north west region seem to be coming to an end.
Representatives of the two groups gave the indication in Kafanchan at a peace and reconciliation meeting organised by a non-governmental organisation, Global Peace Foundation, Nigeria, where the two parties all agreed to bury their differences and chart a new course that will move the area forward.
Over the years, there have been series of communal clashes particularly in Jemaa, Kaura, Kauru and Sanga local government areas in the southern part of Kaduna state resulting in loss of lives, property and displacement of several families.
Elders from warring Fulani communities and their counterparts from Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) were at the meeting to resolve the long-standing conflict.
The President of Southern Kaduna Peoples Union and the Deputy Chairman of Jamatu Nasril Islam were also part of the peace and reconciliatory meeting.
After much deliberations, leaders of the two groups agreed to reconcile their differences and move forward.
They are asking the Federal Government to review the ECOWAS protocol on free movement of persons and goods by checkmating the influx of marauding herdsmen into Nigeria.
They also called for the establishment of a development commission which would be saddled with the responsibility of rebuilding all destroyed communities during the conflict.
At the end of the meeting, active parties in the crisis expressed optimism that with genuine commitment and resolutions arrived at will provide a lasting solution to the conflict.
