Governors of the six South-west states and the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) have agreed to ban night and underage grazing in the region.
The development is aimed at checking the insecurity rocking the six South-west states.
According to the communique sent to journalists at the end of their meeting in Akure, the Ondo State capital on Monday, “night grazing should be banned henceforth, underage herding is inimical to security and hence (should) be banned and occupation of State Forest Reserves illegally is condemned”.
The meeting held following the ultimatum given by the Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, that herders should vacate all forest reserves in the state within seven days.
It also held following an incident in Oyo State where a local warlord, Sunday Adeyemo, known as Sunday Igboho, led residents to evict members of a Fulani community in Igangan over allegations that they harbour criminals.
The meeting was attended by members of the Nigerian Governors Forum which include Mr Akeredolu, Gboyega Oyetola of Osun, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Babajide Sanwo-olu of Lagos State, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, Mohammed Badaru of Jigawa State and Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State.
In order to end the insecurity in the six states, it was agreed a herders/farmers peace committee would be put in place.
In his opening remarks, Mr Fayemi argued that Mr Akeredolu’s comment was misconstrued by the media, “particularly, the social media”.
“Many members of MACBAN were born in the South-west. So Akeredolu cannot ask the Fulani to vacate Ondo State. The areas concerned are the forest reserves and it is about registration and also to work in line with the law. Who we are after are the criminals, not Fulani herdsmen, criminals are criminals, irrespective of their ethnic group,” he said.
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