Fulani herdsmen from South West, South East and other parts of Nigeria have reportedly indicated interest to relocate to the Northern part of Nigeria.
Zubairu Ibrahim, leader of Fulani herdsmen and Secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, in Kano State, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday, February 8.
Ibrahim revealed that the headers would be relocating to Kano to continue their pastoral business at the state RUGA settlement. He listed locations of the herdsmen as Nasarawa, Niger, Enugu, Oyo, among others.
Naija News learnt that some herdsmen from Kebbi, Zamfara, Kaduna, Sokoto, and Jigawa are now in Kano following controversies with host communities.
“The governor has invited anyone willing to stay in the RUGA settlement to come. If they come and they are good people, nothing will stop us from receiving them,” Ibrahim revealed.
He added: “All they need to do is to follow the rules and regulations of government. They should go for grazing in the afternoon and not at night. Nothing can stop them from coming if they are interested.
“Since the governor of Ondo State has gone to the media to say that they (herdsmen) should vacate the area, instead of staying there they should leave. they should leave so that something bad does not happen to them and their property. They should just vacate the area for their safety.”
This is coming after Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje declared that it is no longer acceptable for herders to move their animals down to the South from the North.
According to the governor, the restriction would bring an end to the continuous crisis between herdsmen and farmers in the country. Naija News understands that Fulani herdsmen are being accused of causing mayhem in different parts of the country leading to quit notices and ultimatums on them to vacate parts of South East and South West.