Zone rejects plans to create grazing reserves

temitope a

June 13, 2016 12:12 PM

A Coalition of Southern Kaduna Indigenous People and ethnic nationalities have rejected plans by the state government to create grazing reserves and grazing areas.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai Of Kaduna State

The group in an online petition released on Sunday, 12 June 2016 and championed by the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) warn that there is a big danger and security risk either on short or long term basis if attempts are made to create the grazing reserves.

"We the Southern Kaduna People who are the aboriginal people of Chikun, Lere, Kagarko, Jema’a, Zangon Kataf, Sanga, Kaura, Kauru, Kachia, Kajuru and Jaba Local Government Areas, reject totally, any plan to implement or make any edict or law or whatsoever action that will lead government to creating or starting or resuscitating any Grazing Reserves in our homelands."

"This is after a very serious consideration of the social, religious, political and security implication on the area both in short and long term basis. This is because as people from the grassroots, our present relationship with herdsmen at this time, at best, is suspicious. And we plead that government takes this as our genuine concern in terms of what looks as slowly improving relations, not to assist in shattering it. Our people shall surely resist Grazing Reserves, especially new ones," the statement attached on the online petition said.