By Charles Pemu 
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a categorical directive to herders across the nation, demanding the immediate surrender of all illegal weapons and the cessation of open grazing. This order forms part of the administration’s intensified efforts to resolve the protracted farmer-herder conflict, which continues to destabilize central and northern regions.
The directive was contained within a comprehensive national address on Wednesday, during which the President formally declared a nationwide security emergency in response to the escalating crisis of banditry, kidnapping, and communal violence.
President Tinubu asserted that the Federal Government is now unequivocally prioritizing modern, sustainable solutions for the livestock sector. He stated that ranching is the designated path forward for sustainable livestock farming and the restoration of national harmony.
The President urged all herder associations to embrace the new focus, end open grazing practices, and cooperate by surrendering any illegal firearms in their possession. He cited the establishment of the Ministry of Livestock Development as a key component of the long-term strategy, designed to provide the necessary policy and operational framework for modernizing livestock production.
The Federal Government, in collaboration with state governments, committed to providing the requisite support for the establishment of ranches, aiming to secure both farming and pastoralist communities while drastically mitigating land-use conflicts.
The call for herder disarmament was integrated into a larger security action plan announced by the President, which included several major directives to enhance the nation’s security architecture:
The President ordered the immediate recruitment of additional personnel into both the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force to bolster manpower across security agencies. The Department of State Services (DSS) was directed to immediately deploy trained forest guards to conduct aggressive operations aimed at flushing out terrorists and bandits utilizing the nation’s extensive forests as operational bases. Furthermore, the President tasked the National Assembly with commencing the review of existing legislation to enable willing states to establish state police forces.
President Tinubu extended his condolences to families affected by recent violence and paid tribute to fallen military personnel, including Brigadier General Musa Uba. He concluded with a firm warning: “Those who want to test our resolve should never mistake our restraint for weakness. This administration has the courage and determination to keep the country safe and ensure our citizens live in peace.”