Officials in Adamawa State have been informed about a significant increase in the number of massive cattle herds arriving in Shellenge, a region situated south of the capital, Yola.
Peace Architecture Dialogue (PAD), a non-governmental organization advocating for peace, has shared concerns regarding the security risks posed by 15,000 cattle herds moving from Borno State to new communities. These herds have intensified conflicts between farming communities and herders in an area with a history of recurring skirmishes between the two groups.
During a press conference in Yola, Vidon Jaule, the PAD Chairman in Adamawa State, emphasized the need for increased security presence in local communities due to the potential for conflict. He suggested collaborative efforts between farming and herder communities and urged the deployment of additional security personnel. Jaule highlighted the role of insufficient security in fostering criminal activities and called for the government’s immediate attention to establish more police outposts in conflict-prone areas across Numan, Lamurde, Demsa, Guyuk, Mayo-Belwa, Girei, and Shelleng as a proactive measure to address potential conflicts.
Jaule pointed out that a common concern among communities in the seven LGAs is the lack of police presence in crucial locations. He emphasized his organization’s belief in the importance of state policing and enhancing local-level security apparatus. Since 2014, PAD has been actively working towards fostering harmony between herders and farmers in Adamawa State.
