The South West Zonal Office, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, in Ibadan has noted that the clash between herders and farmers in Gbenpakan community, Saki West Local government area of Oyo state claimed 10 lives.
NEMA Southwest coordinator, Mr Kadiri Olanrewaju disclosed this on Tuesday 10th September, 2024 while briefing stakeholders after an on-the-spot assessment, carried out in collaboration with State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA to ascertain the level of impact of the clash on the community.
Mr. Olanrewaju also hinted that 3 individuals sustained injuries from the clash that happened on the 27th of August, 2024, noting that the injured persons are currently receiving treatment in the hospital.
The NEMA boss said It was reported that the conflict stemmed from tensions regarding the use of farm land, with farmers accusing herders of encroaching on their farmland for grazing purposes.
The NEMA Southwest coordinator said the council chairman, state government in conjunction with NEMA is giving relief items to victims on Sunday 15 September, 2024.
While expressing sympathy to the affected community, Mr Olanrewaju urged both farmers and herders to live peacefully, noting that the solution to recurrence of the clash was to have organized animal rearing.
Receiving the NEMA, SEMA team, Chairman, Saki West LGA, Hon. Gbenga Akinola provided a brief overview of the cause of the conflict explaining that he had held a peace meeting with aggrieved parties to douse the tension.