EKITI State governor Ayo Fayose has banned grazing and the rearing of cattle across the state as part of a move to combat the menace of Fulani herders saying those interested in livestock farming should get their own private cattle ranches.
Over recent months, Fulani cattle herders have been involved in numerous bloody clashes with local farming communities across Nigeria resulting in hundreds of deaths. Over the last week, Fulani cattle herders invaded Oke Ako in Ikole Local Government Area of the state on Friday, killing two residents of the town and injuring others.
In response, Governor Fayose bill to criminalise the movement of cattle from one location to another in the state would soon be sent to the Ekiti State House of Assembly. He warned that the government would henceforth confiscate any cattle seen anywhere in the state apart from in ranches created for them by their owners.
Governor Fayose said: "We will not leave our lands for Fulani herdsmen and in a system where the leadership of the country looks the other way while our people are being killed, we will have no option but to defend ourselves by whatever means. I have come here to commiserate with the people of Oke Ako over the murder of two of our people by these evil Fulani herdsmen.
"I am also here to assure the people that this will be the last time your community will be invaded by Fulani herdsmen under whatever guise. I have directed that cattle rearing and grazing should stop in Ekiti State and those interested in cattle farming should henceforth do so in their own cattle ranches.
Accompanied by the state commissioner of police, Etop James, the director of the Department of State Services and the state commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Don Ikemefuna, Governor Fayose visited Ikole-Ekiti. He alleged that as the patron of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari had refused to caution the herdsmen.
“No more movement of cattle from one location to another in the state and any cattle seen anywhere in Ekiti State apart from the ranch created for them by their owners will be confiscated by the government and their owners will be prosecuted. A bill to this effect will be sent to the House of Assembly for passage into law to criminalise cattle owners whose cattle are found moving from one location to the other in the state.”
“We, in Ekiti will no longer harbour herdsmen who go about killing our people, destroying our farmlands and raping our women. It is our duty to protect our people and we are going to do that without fear or favour,” Governor Fayose added.
The Onirele of Irele, Oba Bamidele Adesogan, who spoke on behalf of the kings that received the governor, said the crisis with the herdsmen had been recurring. Joseph Osasona, a representative of the Association of Hunters, complained that the police had not allowed them to carry arms to defend themselves.
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