Governors Condemns Criminality, Agrees to Ban Open and Night Grazing across states

Governors of the South-West have agreed to ban all forms of open and night grazing across states within the region.

the resolution was reached on Monday at a meeting between governors from the South-West region and the leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN).

Rising from the meeting, chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Kayode Fayemi said it was resolved at the meeting that night grazing should be banned forthwith.

Fayemi further disclosed as agreed in the forum that under age herding is inimical to security and hence should be banned.

According to a communique read by the Ekiti State governor, it was also agreed that occupation of State Forest Reserves illegally will not be condoned.

The meeting between the governors and MACBAN leaders became imperious following the executive order of the governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotim Akeredolu to the Fulani Herdsmen illegally occupying the State Forest Reserves to vacate within seven days with effect from Monday 18″ January 2021.

According to the communique read by Dr. Fayemi at the end of the meeting in Akure, it was agreed that the order of the Ondo Governor was misconstrued and misrepresented by a section of the media.

Fayemi stressed that no one had sent anyone away from any state or region but all hands must be on deck to fight criminality.

Earlier, six governors met in Ondo with to finetune a truce to the lingering friction between Ondo State government and cattle herders.

Present at the meeting were governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State; Muhammadu Badru Abubakar of Jigawa State; Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State; Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State and the NGF Chairman who is also the governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi.

The governors who unanimously condemn acts of criminality irrespective of where culprits hail from, agreed to protect citizens of their state from the incessant attacks as well as promote good neighbourliness through collaborative efforts.