NSCDC Records About 100 Farmers–Herders Clashes Monthly in Oyo
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Oyo State Command, has disclosed that it handles an average of 100 cases of farmers–herders clashes every month across the state.
The Command’s spokesperson, DSC Samuel Opebiyi, revealed this on Friday during an interview, identifying Oluyole, Oke-Ogun and Ibarapa areas as major flashpoints for the recurring conflicts.
According to Opebiyi, grazing on farmlands and incidents of cattle poisoning remain the major triggers of violence in the affected zones.
He said the Agro-Rangers unit of the NSCDC has played a critical role in preventing the clashes—estimated at about 1,200 annually—from escalating into large-scale communal conflicts.
“The Agro-Rangers unit has been the silent hero in preventing these disputes from turning into full-blown communal wars,” Opebiyi said.
He explained that the command largely relies on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to mediate between farmers and herders, noting that the state’s drive for food security cannot be achieved without peaceful coexistence between crop farmers and cattle rearers.
However, he admitted that the ADR mechanism is under severe pressure due to the high volume of cases handled by the command.
A deeper review of the situation, he said, reveals a major manpower challenge, as the Agro-Rangers are currently unable to cover all vulnerable communities across the state.
Opebiyi noted that the absence of security presence in some remote parts of Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun often forces farmers to take the law into their own hands, leading to cases of cattle poisoning and further escalation of conflicts.
“This security vacuum in some areas has worsened the situation, hence our call for an urgent increase in manpower to cover these zero-presence communities,” he said.
Despite the challenges, the NSCDC said its intervention strategies have helped avert several violent confrontations that could have mirrored crises experienced in parts of the Middle Belt.
Opebiyi added that the command is promoting a framework of mutual economic benefit, where herders compensate farmers for damaged crops, while farmers respect designated grazing routes.
With the 2026 planting season approaching, he warned that pressure on the Agro-Rangers unit is expected to intensify, stressing that strengthening the unit has become a matter of urgent public interest.
Abiodun Ogunrinde is a Linguist and Journalist with considerable years of experience in Print Journalism. He blends creativity with a sense of reporting that addresses public concern and human interests.
