South-West governors ban open grazing

Ebun Francis| South West Governors has agreed to ban all forms of open grazing in the region.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, who made the disclosure on Monday, said the decision was taken at the meeting the governors had with the leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria as well as security chiefs.

“Today, the South West governors held a security stakeholders’ meeting in Ondo State. The meeting was attended by our brother governors from Kebbi and Jigawa States; security chiefs, South West zone led by the AIG Zone 11, and leaders from the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Makinde said via a tweet in his verified Twitter handle.

“Collectively, we resolved to ban open grazing in all parts of the South-West. In Oyo State, we already have a law against open grazing which will continue to be implemented by our security agencies.

“I restated that we will not permit criminality as a response to criminal actions. Instead, we will continue to support our security agencies to do their duties. Also, we will work with our people to face our common enemies – the criminals; kidnappers, armed robbers, and bandits.”

Following the rising cases of kidnapping and sundry crimes in the region had also been linked to the activities of criminal herdsmen, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu on January 18, 2021, ordered herdsmen to leave Ondo forest reserves within seven days.

Also over the weekend, violence erupted in Igangan, Ibarapa, on Friday when Yoruba warlord Sunday Igboho, who had earlier asked the Fulani to vacate Oyo state stormed the Fulani settlement in the ancient town with his followers to eject herdsmen.

Some of the governors who attended Monday’s meeting, include Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Mohammed Abubakar of Jigawa State, and Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State.