Herdsmen to register within 14 days in Ekiti, sign deal with govt

Herdsmen operating in Ekiti State will now have to register within 14 days so as to ensure a smooth operation of the cattle rearers in all parts of the state.

This is just as the state government and members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), the umbrella body of cattle rearers in the country, on Thursday, signed a communique to ensure seamless operation of the grazing law in the state.

These were among the agreements reached at a meeting between the state government, leaders and members of MACBAN from the South-West; traditional rulers, farmers, local government officials, community leaders, security agencies and other relevant stakeholders in Ado Ekiti.

The meeting was called as part of the measures to curb the tension and friction between the cattle rearers and the government and the people of Ekiti State.

The cattle breeders operating in Ekiti State are to register with the traditional rulers of their host communities within 14 days, just as the state governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, also announced the release of the cows arrested by Ekiti Grazing Enforcement Marshals (EGEM) recently.

The free registration must be done within the next 14 days after which the registered names would be forwarded to the state government for data keeping.

The governor also agreed to the proposal that members of the MACBAN be part of the patrol teams to be able to help in the operation of the Ekiti grazing marshals.

Governor Fayose said at the meeting that having met a select group of herdsmen earlier in the week, he called a broader meeting to involve many stakeholders in the deliberation for better results.

He said: “You are all my brothers and there is no reason to trouble you. Many among you have been here for long and your families are here too. Ali Garuba from Malumfashi, Katsina State, was part of my first term administration and currently an Igbo man is a councillor in Ward 10 of Ado Local Government. What we are doing today is to ensure peaceful relationship between you, your host communities and the state government.

“Those killed in Oke Ako are gone and can’t be alive again and we should not allow a repeat of such terrible incident. Ekiti people buy cattle from you and you are making profit. We are not asking for much, just for you to obey our law. The law is not targeted at those who obey the law. You have to register with traditional rulers of your host communities.”