EKITI State governor Ayo Fayose has released nine cows arrested for contravening the state’s anti-grazing law to the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (Macban) after agreeing a peace deal with the group.
In late August, Governor Fayose signed a bill into law banning grazing in some areas of the state and treating offenders as terrorists. This Anti Grazing Bill, 2016 was introduced following the killing of two people by persons suspected to be Fulani herdsmen in Oke Ako, in Ikole Ekiti Local Government Area and criminalises grazing in forbidden places and at certain times across Ekiti State.
Last month, Governor Fayose arrested a cow in Ikole-Ekiti as part of his determination to enforce the new Ekiti State Anti Grazing Law. After initially condemning the governor's actions, Macban decided to participate in the herding restriction programme and volunteered its members to help police the scheme.
Yesterday, Macban and the Ekiti State government signed a peace deal agreeing to work together and Governor Fayose returned the nine cows as part of the pact. Governor Fayose said that he released the cows to cement the relationship between the government , farmers and the Fulani herdsmen in the state.
He warned, however, that the 7am till 6pm grazing period stipulated in the law stands and that anyone who contravenes it will be dealt with. At the meeting, Macban promised to co-exist peacefully with the farmers and residents of the state.
Comments
Post a Comment