Southwest governors on Monday have banned all forms of open grazing in the region.
The decision was taken today when the governors met with the leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria as well as security chiefs.
Some of the governors in attendance include Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Mohammed Abubakar of Jigawa State, and Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State.
Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State were absent in the security stakeholders’ meeting held in Akure, Ondo State capital.
Giving a report after the meeting, Makinde said, “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.”
Meanwhile, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) has directed herders to stop night and underage grazing in the South West immediately.
National President of MACBAN, Alhaji Muhammadu Kirowa, gave the order after a meeting with South West Governors, security agencies and members of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) in Akure, capital of Ondo State.
Kirowa stated the menace of banditry, cattle rustling and kidnapping emerged from poor management of farmer /herder conflict, which he said gave rise to cattle rustling as well as kidnapping and banditry.
According to him: “We are against the senseless acts of banditry and kidnapping across the country. We are directing members of our State Executives to work with constituted security outfits.
“The security outfits must be designed to work with, all stakeholders as this will engender inclusiveness and peace also they must within the ambit of the law.
“We are open to working with the forum in designing what we think can work in solving these problems. We condemn all sorts of criminality, extrajudicial killings and the impunity that is associated with it.
“Security agencies can testify how we work with them to arrest criminals.”
A communiqué at the end of the meeting described insecurity as a national challenge and not peculiar to any tribe or region.
It reads in parts: “The order of the Ondo State Governor was misconstrued and misrepresented by a section of the media. He only ordered those occupying the Forest Reserves in Ondo State illegally to quit.
“Criminals should be apprehended and punished, no matter their origin, class or status. Security agencies have been trying to stem the tide of criminality in the country but must step up their efforts in the fight.
“Underage herding is inimical to security and hence be banned. Occupation of State Forest Reserves illegally is condemned.
“That free-range grazing must be stopped to avoid conflicts between the farmers and the herders.”
