Members of Miyetti Allah in Delta State have promised to collaborate with state and local governments, security agencies, and other stakeholders to ensure that issues between herders and farmers are completely resolved.
They have also agreed to identify and remove bad elements within their ranks who not only enter farms without caution but are also involved in kidnapping and other criminal activities.
The Chairman of Miyetti Allah, Asaba Chapter, Alhaji Musa Mohammed Daru, made the pledge while addressing members of the organization in Asaba. He stated that three members of the group who breached peace during their movement have been arrested.
The chairman, speaking in light of directives from various local government councils in the state for cattle owners to confine their herds or face consequences under the state’s 2021 anti-grazing law, urged the councils to provide designated areas for grazing.
Alhaji Daru explained that most of the herders were born in the state and have been in the business for decades. He expressed confusion as to why someone who rears cows would resort to bearing arms and causing chaos.
He appealed for serious consideration for members who are exposed to many dangers and directives that are counterproductive to their operations.
Alhaji Daru also stated that the directive from some local government chairmen to tie up their cows and find grass to feed them may not be achievable, particularly in the dry season.
According to him, “We now see something that is bigger than us. Many of the local government chairmen have told us that, henceforth, any cow found on the road and arrested will attract a fine of N100,000.”
He appealed to the council chairmen and community leaders in the state to reconsider their stance and allow them to graze in designated areas, emphasizing that they are not in support of anything that could disrupt peace in the state.
Alhaji Daru thanked the Oshimili South Council chairman, Dr. Kelvin Ezenyili, and the owners of grazing areas for agreeing to allow their members to graze in designated areas.
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He advised other councils to follow the example of Oshimili South, which invited their members to enter into agreements on grazing areas. He emphasized that they support anything that strengthens peaceful coexistence and the overall development of the state.
The chairman lamented the absence of ranches in Delta State, which, he said, has adversely affected their operations.
While calling for the establishment of ranches, the chairman noted that setting up ranches by the state, local governments, or individuals is not as simple as it may seem, as it requires large tracts of land. If implemented, it could negatively impact communal lands in the state.
Also speaking, a member of the organization, Alhaji Abubakar Falo, stated that they are against crime and criminality under the guise of grazing and appealed for their members to be allowed to graze in designated areas.
Alhaji Falo said that members of the group have always lived peacefully with host communities and expressed concern that the barbaric actions of a few individuals should not jeopardize their business.
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