Afenifere backs Fayose’s ban on cattle grazing

Herdsmen still occupying Agatu village

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose has banned grazing and rearing of cattle in the state, saying those interested in cattle farming should get their own private cattle ranches and that a bill to make movement of cattle from one location to another criminal in the state will soon be sent to the State House of Assembly.

Governor Fayose, who made this known when he visited Oke-Ako in Ikole local council area of the state that was invaded last Friday by Fulani herdsmen that killed two residents of the town and injured others, warned that government will henceforth confiscate any cattle seen anywhere in the state apart from ranch created for them by their owners.

He described the Fulani herdsmen that attacked Oke-Ako and other
communities in the country as “agents of the devil that must be fished out and punished accordingly.”

The Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere has expressed support for what it described as a courageous move by the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose to ban cattle grazing in the state.

In a statement yesterday, the National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin said the action of the governor was a timely move to strengthen the civilization that places higher premium on human lives above cows.

According to Afenifere, “We have sacrificed enough blood in the unending cycle of bloodletting by Fulani herdsmen, the latest being those killed in Ekiti two days ago.”

It says the responsible action of the governor should jolt the Federal Government that has appeared largely indifferent to the murderous activities of the Fulani herdsmen to act responsibly over this matter.

The group said, “We fully endorse this action, which is in conformity with the resolution of the 2014 National Conference that cattle breeders must embrace ranching as against grazing reserves being canvassed in certain quarters.”

This is coming as the One Idoma Initiative have confirmed that Fulani herdsmen are still occupying three villages in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State, against the peace accord signed between the Agatu people and the Fulani requesting the herdsmen to live their soil.

The Leader of the Initiative, Barrister Paul Edeh, who spoke at the Agatu Peace Concert in Abuja explained that following the attacks by the Fulani herdsmen in the Agatu communities killing hundreds of people and destroying over 2000 houses, the elders of Agatu community met and a communiqué was signed requesting the herdsmen to live. Though there has been relative peace in Agatu communities, but the herdsmen are still occupying their territory.