By our reporter| Governors of the six South-west states and the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) on Monday agreed to ban night and underage grazing in the South-west.
This was contained in a communique sent to journalists at the end of their meeting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, attended by the governors of Jigawa, Kebbi, Ekiti, Osun, Oyo, and Ondo.
According to the communique, “Night grazing should be banned henceforth.
“Under age herding is Inimical to security and hence be banned
“Occupation of State Forest Reserves illegally is condemned.”
The meeting held at the International Centre for Culture and Events (DOME), Alagbaka was aimed at finding lasting solutions to the incessant killings, kidnapping, and crises between herdsmen and farmers in the state.
The full resolution of the meeting were:
-“That security and welfare of the people of Nigeria is the primary purpose of government as enshrined in the 1999 constitution of Nigeria as amended.
-“The stakeholders are committed to the unity and indivisibility of Nigeria.
-“Insecurity is a national challenge and not peculiar to any tribe or region but must be addressed by the cooperation of all.
-“The order of the Ondo State Governor was misconstrued and misrepresented by a section of the media. He only ordered those occupying the Forest Reserves in Ondo State illegally to quit.
-“Criminals should be apprehended and punished, no matter their origin, class or status.
-“Security agencies have been trying to stem the tide of criminality in the country but must step up their efforts in the fight.
-“There is the need to build partnership for peace and security with MACBAN and jointly wage war against criminality.
-“No one had sent anyone away from any state or region but all hands must be on deck to fight criminality.
-The meeting further agreed that MACBAN is a peace-loving, law-abiding organization which does not habour or condone criminals and agreed that:
-Night grazing should be banned henceforth
-Underage herding is Inimical to security and hence be banned
-Occupation of State Forest Reserves illegally is condemned.
-“MACBAN also suffers insecurity and kidnapping and thus desire peaceful coexistence.
-“MACBAN is ready for any peaceful move by the states to engender security.
-“Fake news is another issue that makes our security worse than solving it.
-“There must be an enduring framework with MACBAN in a way that will help address security issues.
-“That free range grazing must be stopped to avoid conflicts between the farmers and the herders
-“Strengthening an alternative security arrangements and make them complementary to the mainstream security agencies in Nigeria.
-“MACBAN should embrace and be committed to modern breeding process by creating grazing reserves and practice ranching to prevent cattle roaming about.
-“Standing Committee comprising of farmers, MACBAN, and the Government should be set up in each state (where they don’t exist) to ensure synergy and result.
-“We must create economic opportunities for our people and reduce opportunities for criminalities in our country”.
Earlier, Ondo state Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu insisted that those occupying the forest illegally must come out and register with government like farmers in the state.
He said over 70,000 farmers have registered with the state government.
According to him, the government must be able to identify those in the forest to be sure criminality is nipped in the bud.
“We have serious security challenges and it is a serious matter, let us all work together to drive the criminals out of the forest,” the governor pleaded.
However, he said he has a duty to his people and everyone in the state.
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