Anti-herdsmen law: Fayose faces stiff opposition

– The spokesman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Alhaji Muhammad Ibrahim, says any laws passed by the Ekiti state government which contradicts the law of the federal government should be considered null and void

– Ibrahim however, describes any Fulani herdsmen or any individual or group that illegally carries arms against the state as criminals

– The president of the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, (AYCF), Yerima Shettima also expresses reservations on the anti-herdsmen law in Ekiti state

Grazing with arms in the Ekiti state has been categorized as terrorism.

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has opposed the bill assented to by Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state which categorises grazing with arms in the state as terrorism.

READ ALSO: Stop Fulani herdsmen attacks now, Enugu Labour to FG

Reacting to the passage of the law, the ACF said any laws passed by the Ekiti state government which contradicted the law of the federal government should be considered null and void.

According to the Punch, the national publicity secretary of the ACF, Alhaji Muhammad Ibrahim, on Tuesday, August 30, said the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees free movement of Nigerians as long as they pursue their legitimate business.

The ACF spokesman however said any Fulani herdsmen or any individual or group that illegally carried arms against the state should be treated as criminals.

“This is not the question of herdsmen or Fulani or anybody. Anybody carrying arms illegally is committing a serious offence against the state. Naturally, such people should be punished by the law,” he said.

READ ALSO: 20 dead as military attacks cattle rustlers

Similarly, the president of the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (AYCF), Yerima Shettima, expressed reservation on the new law in Ekiti state, but also condemned the attacks by the herdsmen.

He however, noted that the issue of criminality perpetrated by some people should not be seen as an avenue to criminalise others.

‘‘Fayose should have looked at the issue in collaboration with the Federal Government. So, if he is passing the law to victimise other people, I don’t think it is right.” he said.

Meanwhile, the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, the Igbo socio-political organisation, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra have expressed support for the bill assented to by Fayose, which categorises grazing with arms in the state as terrorism.

Afenifere has described Fayose’s action as courageous and worthy of emulation.

MASSOB, while commending Fayose for signing the bill into law, said other governors in the southern part of the country, as well as the Middle Belt, should enact similar laws.

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