The acting Commandant General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Hilary Madu, has said that the Corps would soon dispatch more agro ranger operatives to protect farmers and prevent clashes between them and pastoralists in Oyo State.
He noted that many agro rangers had earlier been deployed in the state, noting that stakeholders had met and addressed the clashes between the farmers and herdsmen in parts of the state.
Responding to questions at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, the CG said he had received a request for more men from the state, adding that the deployment would soon be carried out.
According to him, the farmers’ and herders’ clashes were capable of causing food insecurity in the country, adding that the NSCDC was determined to resolve the crises and ensure stability.
Madu stated, “We have the agro rangers unit in all the states of the federation but the number is what we are talking about.
The (state) commandant has just written that we should post more men, so we are going to post more men.
“Oyo is not a small place, so we will post more men of agro rangers there. That matter (farmers/herdsmen clashes) is being resolved by the entire South-West; the stakeholders were called up for a meeting and the matter as far as I’m concerned is being resolved.”
The NSCDC boss admonished the men and officers of the Corps to be proactive, hardworking and fulfil their mandate of protecting critical national infrastructure across the country.
Madu said the Corps was involved in the ongoing counterinsurgency operations in the North-East with the military.