Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has banned grazing and rearing of cattle across the state, saying those interested in cattle farming should get their own private cattle ranch.

The governor also said that a bill to criminalise movement of cattle from one location to another in the state would soon be sent to the state House of Assembly.

Speaking on Monday at Oke-Ako, in Ikole local government area of the state that was invaded last Friday by suspected herdsmen that killed two residents and injured others, the governor warned that government would henceforth confiscate any cattle seen anywhere in the state apart from ranch created for them by their owners.

He described the herdsmen that attacked Oke-Ako and other communities in the country as “agents of the devil that must be fished out and punished accordingly.”

He said, “We will not leave our lands for Fulani herdsmen and in a system where the leadership of the country looks the other way while our people are being killed. We will have no option but to defend ourselves by whatever means.”

Fayose said he was in area to commiserate with the people over the murder of two people by those suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.

“I am also here to assure that this will be the last time your community will be invaded by Fulani herdsmen under whatever guise.”

“If President Mohammadu Buhari, who is the patron of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has refused to call the herdsmen to order, we in Ekiti will no longer harbour herdsmen who go about killing our people, destroying our farmlands and raping our women.

“If the same President Buhari that was so concerned about the killing of Fulani herdsmen in Saki, Oke Ogun Area of Oyo State such that he, as a private citizen led Arewa to Ibadan on October 13, 2000, to confront the then Governor of Oyo State, late Alhaji Lam Adesina is now keeping silent when the same herdsmen are killing our people, we must rise and defend ourselves.”

•Text courtesy of Daily Trust. Photo shows Governor Fayose.

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