Herdsmen rearing their castles |
The Cattle Breeders Association (Miyetti Allah) has threatened to increase the price of cow to N2 million if the South insist on anti-open grazing law.
Maikudi Usman, who is the South-West Zonal Secretary has
disclosed this information on Wednesday during a one-day public hearing
organised by the State House of Assembly.
According to Maikudi Usman;
“A Fulani man moves from one place to another to ply his
trade, but we have some bad eggs that are fomenting trouble.
The government should allow us to tell our people that they don’t want our cows to destroy people’s farmlands,” he pleaded.
“We have met with stakeholders in Ekiti, Ondo and even Oyo States and we reached agreements with them.”
In his own remarks the president of the Lagos State Sheep
Farmers Association, Mustapha Ibrahim, said that the bill was not meant to
attack anybody, but that it was all-embracing.
Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni, who is the representative of Mr.
Obasa in his speech he said “ the issue of cattle rearing and open grazing
called for concerted efforts for stability and economic development”
In his welcome address, Chairman, House Committee on
Agriculture, Kehinde Joseph, said the proposed law was meant to ensure peace
between herders and farmers in the state.
Mr Joseph said; it was meant to ensure the registration of
herders and prohibit cattle roaming and imposes stiffer punishment on those who
carry arms to rear cattle.
“It will forestall herders-farmers clashes and redefine
social and economic activities in the state.
He added;
“Members of cattle breeders’ association will be sensitized
on the new development and we will ensure strict compliance with the law when
it is passed,”
Over the years, criminal invasion of farmlands by herders
has resulted in deadly clashes around the country.
In the past few months, governors from southern Nigeria have
pushed for an outright ban of open grazing in the region, setting a deadline
for the enactment of enabling laws.
Fulani herdsmen have been accused of perpetrating criminal
activities such as rape, kidnapping, destruction of farms etc. in forests and
highways in the country, especially the South.
The Bill Has been authorized: “A bill for a law to Prohibit
Open Cattle Grazing in Lagos State, the Trespass of Cattle Land and for Other
Connected Purposes”.
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