Herdsmen: Security agencies, Ekiti govt, herdsmen to jointly fight grazing menace

Ekiti State Government, security agencies and the leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) have resolved to crack down on criminal elements within the ranks of herdsmen in the state.

This is just as the police have spread their dragnet to arrest a herdsman, simply identified as Dogo, who has been indicted over some criminal acts in the Northern part of Ekiti State.

The resolution followed a series of meetings held by the stakeholders at the Government House, Ado-Ekiti.

The meeting was as a result of a resurgence in criminal activities by people suspected to be unidentified herdsmen in Irele, Oke Ako, Ikole, Ijan, Ikere and Ise areas of the state.

In a statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, on Friday, the governor reiterated the resolve of his administration not to allow anybody or group to foment violence or engage in criminal act under the guise of breeding cattle.

One after the other, community leaders from Irele, Ijan and Ikole, recounted their terrible ordeals in the hands of suspected criminal-minded herdsmen.

They blamed the development on some unregistered and unidentifiable herdsmen coming to the state from nearby states.

It was also gathered that after wreaking havoc on innocent people, the criminals do find a hiding place in the forest reserve spanning Ijan, Ise and nearby Ondo State.

The leader of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in the South-West region, Alhaji Mohammed. Kabir, said it was unfortunate that some unscrupulous elements wanted to breach the existing cordial relationship between the association and the state government which signed a memorandum of understanding on the implementation of the Anti-Grazing Law in the state.

The leader of the farmers’ group in the South-West, Mr Segun Dasaolu, commended the proactive nature of Fayose and warned that as the dry season bites harder, more migrant herdsmen would be moving down South.

Fayose, who said everybody should comply with the provisions of the Anti-Grazing Law, added that nothing would be spared to get at criminals in the state.

He ordered the immediate evacuation of people from Atikankan area of Ado-Ekiti where some criminal do hide.

The Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, Mr Wilson Inalegwu, called for more tips from the public and concerned parties, saying the police were on top of the situation.