The Nigerian Senate has called on the Federal Government to fund the establishment of modern ranches nationwide to enhance safety and economic productivity for herders and local communities.

The resolution during Tuesday’s Plenary followed a motion by Senator Anthony Siyako Yaro representing Gombe South on the recent banditry attacks in Billiri Local Government Area, Gombe State, where suspected herders killed residents, destroyed property, and displaced scores of people.

He stressed the government’s constitutional duty to protect lives and property, highlighting the havoc caused by such violence. Galaxy Television reports that Senator Seriake Dickson, representing Bayelsa West in his contribution, described ranching as a sustainable solution to the herder-community conflicts, urging collaboration between relevant ministries and Senate committees to develop a nationwide ranching framework.

Senator Adams Oshiomhole, on the other hand, called for revisiting a prior resolution to hold a public hearing on security and economic challenges under the ECOWAS framework. The Senate, therefore, observed a minute’s silence for the victims and urged security agencies to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators. It also called for relief materials for displaced persons and the deployment of a joint task force to prevent further attacks while pledging legislative oversight to ensure long-term solutions.