The Bauchi State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has advised farmers in the state to harvest their farm produce early in order to prevent conflicts with herders who want to graze freely on their lands.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Command, SP Ahmed Wakili, made this appeal in a statement issued to newsmen on Saturday.
He said the Command has identified several potential security threats for the Ember-months season in the state and other parts of the country, such as herders'/farmers' clashes, communal clashes, armed robbery, kidnapping and abduction, road accidents, stealing of farm produce and mischief, as well as thuggery, among others.
He said the Command has taken proactive security measures to deal with these threats and called on the general public to cooperate and comply with them in order to enhance general safety and security in the state.
He said: “To avoid herders-farmers and communal clashes, the Command calls on the respective stakeholders to refrain from acts of mischief or any acts that could lead to the breakdown of law and order and public peace.
“However, farmers are advised to evacuate their farm produce in good time before herders start grazing freely and it degenerates into the aforementioned.
“Also, all herders are unequivocally warned to desist from trespassing into farmers' crops before they harvest them.”
