South-West Governors Ends Open Grazing.

Following the rise in the case of insecurity attributed to herdsmen in the south-west region, governments have banned all forms of open grazing in the area.

The governors reached the decision Yesterday after meeting with the leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and security chiefs in Akure, Ondo State.
At the meeting, Ondo State Rotimi Akeredolu, Osun State Gboyega Oyetola, Ekiti State Kayode Fayemi, Oyo State Seyi Makinde, Jigawa State Mohammed Abubakar, and Kebbi State Abubakar Bagudu.

The governor of Oyo state, who spoke after the meeting, noted that: “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.

“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.”

Earlier, the Ekiti State Governor, and Chairman of Nigeria’s Governors Forum, Kayode Fayemi, guaranteed the herdsmen that they were not asked to leave Ondo State but only got proper registration.
He said the meeting was held at the NGF instance and necessitated by the country’s spate of insecurity.

He noted no eviction order was given to the Fulani herdsmen in Ondo or any other South-West state. Fayemi, while speaking at the meeting, pointed out that the statement by Ono State Governor had no eviction reference, he said: “This is your home. You’ve lived here, married and done business with us. Nobody is going anywhere.”

Recall that Akeredolu had, on January 18, 2021, given herdsmen a seven days ultimatum to leave Ondo forest reserves within seven days following incidents of kidnapping attributed to Fulani herders.