Herdsmen Row: 5000 Cows Cannot Be Equated To Human – Fayose

Source: thewillnigeria.com

BEVERLY HILLS, October 26, (THEWILL) – Governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose, has dismissed the complaints by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) against the new Ekiti grazing law declaring that 5000 cows cannot be equated to human beings.

Speaking at a briefing at the Governor's Office, in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, Fayose dismissed MACBAN's claim that five cows were killed by the state government revealing that the cows are alive and in the government's custody.

He also accused the Federal Government of backing the herdsmen to attack communities as he alerted communities in boundary towns and villages in the states to a perceived threat by MACBAN.

“Four days after this threat was issued, the Federal Government is yet to act,” Fayose said.

“The silence of the Federal Government has further confirmed the insinuation that there is a plot to support the herdsmen to invade some boundary towns and villages in Ekiti State.

“I am therefore using this opportunity to put Ekiti people, especially residents of boundary towns, on red alert. Ekiti people must be prepared to defend their land against these Philistines, whose attributes and characters are extremism, violence, bloodshed and destruction.

“Why didn't Miyetti Allah warn its members when they were killing Nigerians and destroying farmlands?

“Are their cows more important than human lives?
“To us in Ekiti, 5000 cows cannot be equated to human beings who are being killed daily by herdsmen across the country.

“MACBAN should know that cattle farmers are not different from other farmers.

“If they want to rear cows in Ekiti, they should do so in accordance with the laws of the state.

“After all, law prohibiting sale and consumption of alcohol was made in Kano State and the law is being enforced while Sharia Law made in some states in the North is also being enforced.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Prohibition of Cattle and other Ruminants Grazing in Ekiti State Bill that was signed into law on August 29 remains in force.

“MACBAN should tell its members to comply with this law by seeking from the government designated land for grazing, which the government is always willing to give.

“It is strange that the association kept silent when its members killed two people and injured several others in Oke-Ako in Ekiti State.”

THEWILL recalls that MACBAN, in a statement at the weekend, claimed that the Ekiti Grazing Enforcement Marshals (EGEM) on October 21, killed five cows as it urged the Federal Government to intervene before the incident develops into a feud involving its members and the Ekiti State government.

Story by Oputah David