The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has called for the adoption of cattle ranching as a strategic measure to curb the recurring clashes between farmers and herders.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday ahead of the maiden African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit, Musa said the practice would help address several security challenges confronting the continent. The summit, scheduled for 25–27 August 2025, will focus on strengthening continental security cooperation to tackle emerging threats.

“One of the major security challenges we face in Nigeria is the farmers–herders conflict,” he said. “When cattle roam, they lose energy, grow smaller, and produce less milk. Why not ranch them? Ranching benefits the animals, their owners, and the wider community — it’s a win-win.”

Musa also advised against the indiscriminate killing of animals, recommending instead that stray livestock be impounded and released only after their owners pay compensation for crop damage.

He dismissed claims that his position was an attempt to push the government into forcibly acquiring people’s land. “Ranching is a business. Anyone interested should invest in it. State governments can establish model ranches to demonstrate the benefits,” he said.

The CDS stressed that, regardless of the terminology used, designated areas must be provided where animals can be kept without encroaching on farmlands.

Musa also listed key security threats facing Africa, including terrorism by Boko Haram, Al-Shabaab, and ISIS affiliates; rising incidents of banditry and kidnapping; piracy in the Gulf of Guinea; and emerging cyberattacks targeting defence systems. He said the summit would provide African nations with a platform to collectively identify challenges and find home-grown solutions.