Categories: News

Miyetti Allah Prohibits Night, Underage Grazing

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has disclosed that it will move against underage and late night grazing amongst herders.

The association made the disclosure in a statement issued by its national president Muhammadu Kiruwa.

The umbrella body of cattle breeders in the country says the move is part of the efforts by the group to find last solution to the raging conflicts between herdsmen and farmers in the Southwest.

Kiruwa appealed to herdsmen to refrain from herding their cattles into the farmlands of other citizens, which he cited as the major cause of farmer-herder clashes.

MACBAN’s resolutions is sequel to a crucial meeting held in Akure, the Ondo capital city today between leaders of the association and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

Recall that Ondo State governor Rotimi Akeredolu had last week ordered the immediate evacuation of Fulani herdsmen from the state’s forest reserves.

He cited reports linking pervasive kidnappings and wanton killings in the state to activities of herders, noting that the forest reserves are being used to perpetrate their heinous crimes.

The Miyetti Allah chief, however, stated that Mr. Akeredolu’s directive was “misconstrued and misrepresented by a section of the media.”

Kiruwa aveered that the Ondo chief executive had only ordered individuals occupying the state’s forests illegally to quit.

“No one had sent anyone away from any state or region but all hands must be on deck to fight criminality,” he said, adding that “criminals should be apprehended and punished, no matter their origin, class or status.”

MACBAN’s order to herders in the Southwest is not a new development, as previous directive to cattle breeders had been disregarded, leading to fierce altercation and unrest between herdsmen and host communities.

It’s, however, believed that the latest development will put to rest years of avoidable conflict.