Herdsmen group cautions Governor over killing of cows

chika ebuzor

October 22, 2016 8:31 PM

The group also called on Fayose to tender an unreserved apology and compensate its members whose cows were killed.

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose

Governor Fayose had earlier urged residents of the state to poison the cattle of Fulani herdsmen that eat on their farms.

He also launched an agency that will ensure that herdsmen do not violate the anti-grazing law which he signed on Monday, May 23, 2016.

The umbrella body of cattle rearers, also called on Fayose to tender an unreserved apology and compensate its members whose cows were killed.

According to Daily Post, MACBAN said “We have been reliably alerted an impeccable source in Ado- Ekiti that the Anti-maul vigilante group shot five cows and carted away with the meat but the herdsman was able to flee with the rest of his cattle.

“We are hereby constrained to implore the federal government through its security agencies to wade into this unprovoked and primitive aggression against our members, before this macabre incident develops into unquenchable inferno involving our members and Ekiti State government.

“No Cattle strayed into anybody’s farmland around that area in question. As such, the actions of the Anti-malu vigilante are not ant only provoking, but capable of creating uncontrollable scenarios whose ramification may go well beyond Ekiti State.

“As far as we know , Ekiti State is not an island of its own , but a State within the federal Republic of Nigeria and while the Governor is permitted to carry out actions geared towards protecting the interest of Ekiti State, such actions should follow the rule of law.

“We deplore this act of brigandage and call on Governor Ayodele Fayose to offer an unreserved apology to MACBAN, and equally set machinery in motion with a view to compensate our members who lost five cows in this primitive adventure.

“That the brutality of the Ekiti Grazing enforcement marshals (popularly known as Anti- malu) on herdsmen is even outside the time stipulated by that law (if the law exists at all).

“The federal overnment should therefore look into the actions and activities of this committee because we cannot fold our hands while the only means of survival of our members is taken away and destroyed.

“MACBAN has instructed victims of this aggression and its members nationwide to exercise maximum restrain while we work towards resolving this unfortunate incident through mature and civilized manners.”

Suspected Fulani herdsmen reportedly carried out attacks on Oke Ako community in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti state.

chika ebuzor