Fayose defeated? Ekiti finally agrees to build cattle ranches for Ful;ani herdsmen

– Fulani herdsmen are expected to get cattle ranches in Ekiti

– This comes after the state debated on the measures to take to protect farmers

– Herdsmen with guns will be prosecuted when caught

The Ekiti state government has agreed to build ranches for Fulani herdsmen in the state following an extensive discussion on the issue.

Governor Ayodele Fayose had ordered herdsmen out of the state following an attack in some communities reportedly carried out by some herdsmen.

READ ALSO: SSA to Buhari gives solution to Fulani herdsmen crisis

Vanguard reports that the decision to build the ranches was made known by Hon. Gboyega Aribisogan during a public hearing organized by the joint committees on agriculture and environment on a bill to regulate and control cattle grazing in Ekiti State house of assembly on Wednesday, August 10.

Rt. Hon Adewumi Olusegun who is the chairman of the committee recalled how they were terrorised by the activities of herdsmen. He noted that the bill was the first of its kind in the country and expressed optimism that it would help in protecting the lives of Ekiti people.

A herdsman

Oba Oyebade Oladapo who is the chairman of Ekiti State Council of Obas and Ologotun of Ogotun Ekiti applauded the Ekiti state government for the bill and recalled that residents had to endure attacks perpetuated by herdsmen in the past.

Oba Adebayo Emmanuel who is also a traditional ruler called for the creation of ranches for cattle rearers in the state and also urged the government to make available irrigation facilities for farmers in the state.

Engr. E. Abegunde who is the permanent secretary of the agriculture ministry explained that the problem was not peculiar to the state alone but West Africa.

He described how farmers developed problems when they realise that their crops had been destroyed by herdsmen. He said he wrote to traditional rulers in the north and to the inspector general of police but got no result.

“There is justification for this action, cattle rearing should be seen as private business such as snail rearing, piggery, poultry and so on, modern technology should be adopted in the business, they should be confined in ranches, the energy the cattles dissipates in transit is converted to added weight which is an added advantage to the rearers.”

Barr. Umar Imam who represented the herdsmen agreed that the state needed to control the activities of herdsmen but had reservations concerning some parts of the bill.

READ ALSO: Enugu men divorce wives raped by Fulani herdsmen

He said herdsmen needed knives in their activities but said anyone caught with guns should be prosecuted.

Zaiyanu Muhammed who is the secretary of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in Ekiti claimed the killer herdsmen were not indigenous to the region but were from Niger.

He suggested that the only solution to the problem is the creation of a vigilante group which will comprise the DSS, Police, NSCDC, Immigration, Fulani Bororo, Fulani Ilorin to curb the excesses of those in transit.

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