The National President of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association of Nigeria (MACABAN), Alhaji Mohammad Kirwa has pledged to ensure that herdsmen adhere to the dictates of the Ekiti Anti-open Grazing Law.
Speaking at Ikole Ekiti during a meeting with Fulani herdsmen in the State, Alhaji Kirwa showered encomiums on Governor Ayodele Fayose, describing him as an honest leader who is interested in the peaceful co-existence of non-indigenes and indigenes of the State.
Alhaji Kirwa explained that he was on a two-week tour of the State as a follow up to the meeting of Governor Fayose and emissaries of the Sultan and the Emir of Kano a fortnight ago and to monitor the compliance level of their members with the agreement reached with the
Governor.
While promising on behalf of all members of their total cooperation with the Ekiti State Anti-open grazing law, the national President declared that the successful resolution of farmers/herdsmen clashes through an impartial implementation of the law would become a model for other States across the country.
Earlier in his address, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon. Kehinde Odebunmi extoled the leadership virtues of Governor Fayose, described him as a true nationalist and defender of the poor. He added that the law has been amended to also prescribe a penalty for whoever kills cows in retaliation rather than report to law enforcement agents.
Odebunmi appreciated the National President of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association of Nigeria for his support so far, adding that his efforts, especially the process of identifying the recalcitrant herdsmen in the State and handing the over for prosecution is laudable.
The delegation had earlier paid courtesy visits to the Chairman of the Ekiti state Council of Obas, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju, the Oloye of Oye-Ekiti and the paramount ruler of the Egbeoba Kingdom, Oba James Adewumi Ajibade Fasiku, the Elekole of Ikole-Ekiti where both traditional rulers promised their total support as long as these efforts will return permanent peace to their domains.
Ingredients of the Law The law, titled: “Prohibition of Cattle and Other Ruminants Grazing in Ekiti, 2016,” criminalizes grazing in some places within the state and outside certain period in the day. It also prohibited the carriage of any kind of weapon by herdsmen.
Signing the new law, Fayose had said it would check cases of incessant attacks or killings of local residents and destruction of farmlands by herdsmen and their cattle. He said the law would also strengthen security in various communities across the state, adding that anyone
that fouled the law stood the risk of being treated as a terrorist.
The governor said, “With the signing into law of this bill today, anyone caught grazing with arms or any weapon in Ekiti would now be charged with terrorism and be made to face the law according to certain sections of it. The same goes for those, who graze in prohibited areas or go against the time frame of 7 am to 6 pm allowed for open grazing.”
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