The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, on Monday stated that Governors of the South-West have agreed to ban all forms of open grazing in the region.
Governor Makinde said the decision was reached at the meeting between governors, the leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria and the security chiefs.
The meeting had in attendance Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Mohammed Abubakar of Jigawa State, and Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State.
Makinde in a post on Twitter on Monday said, “Today, the South West governors held a security stakeholders’ meeting in Ondo State. The meeting was attended by our brother governors from Kebbi and Jigawa States; security chiefs, South West zone led by the AIG Zone 11 and leaders from the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria.”
“Collectively, we resolved to ban open grazing in all parts of the South-West. In Oyo State, we already have a law against open grazing which will continue to be implemented by our security agencies.”
“I restated that we will not permit criminality as a response to criminal actions. Instead we will continue to support our security agencies to do their duties. Also, we will work with our people to face our common enemies – the criminals; kidnappers, armed robbers and bandits.”
In a related development, Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, had disclosed that he has the support of Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipe and other traditional rulers to evict criminal herdsmen from the South-West.
Recall that Igboho issued seven-day ultimatum to herdsmen to vacate Ibarapa community of Oyo State following reports of killing, kidnapping and raping in the community.