Gov. Fayose Bans Cattle Grazing In Ekiti State, Says, 'Cattle Farmers Must Own Their Own Ranch'

Governor Fayose of Ekiti State isn't taking it
lightly with Fulani herdsmen, after their attack
on his people. The Governor has banned grazing
and rearing of cattle in the State, saying those
interested in cattle farming should get their own
private cattle ranch(es) and that a bill to make
movement of cattle from one location to another
criminal in the State will soon be sent to the
State House of Assembly.
Governor Fayose, who made this known when
he visited Oke-Ako in Ikole local government
area of the State that was invaded last Friday
by Fulani herdsmen that killed two residents of
the town and injured others, warned that
government will henceforth confiscate any cattle
seen anywhere in the State apart from ranch
created for them by their owners.
He described the Fulani herdsmen that attacked
Oke-Ako and other communities in the country
as ''agents of the devil that must be fished out
and punished accordingly.
The governor said:
''We will not leave our lands for Fulani
herdsmen and in a system where the leadership
of the country looks the other way while our
people are being killed, we will have no option
than to defend ourselves by whatever means.
''I have come here to commiserate with the
people of Oke-Ako over the murder of two of our
people by these evil Fulani herdsmen. “I am also
here to assure that this will be the last time
your community will be invaded by Fulani
herdsmen under whatever guise.
''I have directed that cattle rearing and grazing
should stop in Ekiti State and those interested in
cattle farming should henceforth do so in their
own cattle ranch.
''No more movement of cattle from one
location to another in the State and any cattle
seen anywhere in Ekiti State apart from the
ranch created for them by their owners will be
confiscated by the government and their owners
will be prosecuted.
''A bill to this effect will be sent to House of
Assembly for passage into law to criminalise
cattle owners whose cattle are found moving
from one location the other in the State.
''If President Mohammadu Buhari, who is the
patron of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders
Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has refused to
call the herdsmen to order, we in Ekiti will no
longer harbour herdsmen who go about killing
our people, destroying our farmlands and raping
our women.
''If the same President Buhari that was so
concerned about the killing of Fulani herdsmen
in Saki, Oke Ogun Area of Oyo State, such that
he, as a private citizen led Arewa to Ibadan on
October 13th, 2000, to confront the then
Governor of Oyo State, late Alhaji Lam Adesina,
is now keeping silent when the same herdsmen
are killing our people, we must rise and defend
ourselves.
''It is our duty to protect our people and we
are going to do that without fear or favour. The
governor reiterated that activities of the Fulani
Herdsmen was inimical to the revival of
agriculture in the country saying;
''One wonders how Nigerians can go back to
farming when those already in the farms are
losing billions of naira worth of crops to
destruction of their farmlands by the Fulani
Herdsmen and the Federal Government is not
doing anything about it.''