Governors from the South-West region of Nigeria and leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, MACBAN have agreed to wage war against criminal element in the region and the country at large.
Part of the resolutions reached at the meeting between leadership of the association and Governors from the South-West, as well as their counterparts from Kebbi and Jigawa States in Akure, is the ban of night and under-aged grazing.
The meeting which was at the instance of the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, Kayode Fayemi, took place on the day of expiration of the seven-day ultimatum issued to unregistered herders to vacate Ondo state forest reserves.
The meeting, which had in attendance Governors of Ekiti, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Kebbi and Jigawa states, is to put to rest controversies surrounding the order given by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to the herders.
The Chairman of the NGF and Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, said the Forum is after the arrest of criminals, irrespective of ethnic background, hence the need to build partnerships for peace, progress and development.
Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu who issued the ultimatum to herders said he was misrepresented in the media and further explained that Government and leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in the state, have agreed to ensure safety in the forest reserves, while stressing the need to flush out Illegal herders, using the reserves as hideouts to coordinate their crime.
Governors from the South-West also resolved to work together to tackle banditry, armed robbery and kidnapping in the region.
The leadership of the Miyetti Allah, who said they are open to working with government to check crimes, directed all their members to stop night and under-aged grazing.
It was also resolved that all stakeholders must be committed to the indivisibility of the country.
(Editor:Abaje Usekwe)
