Dr Kayode Fayemi’s government in Ekiti State has commenced the registration of herdsmen living in the State in order to have detail records of their number and location within the state.
Speaking at the flag off ceremony held at the Governor’s Office in Ado Ekiti, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Olabode Adetoyi said the registration became necessary to allow effective monitoring of activities in the State and guard against unwholesome and illegal happenings.
Dr. Olatoyi said that the meeting between the State Government and the Miyetti Allah and the registration would assist in resolving some critical security issues and boost peaceful coexistence between the herdsmen and the farmers in the State.
According to him, the registration exercise would be carried out within one month and all registered herdsmen would be issued identity cards for proper identification.
He however warned that any herdsman that attempt to operate in the State without registering and proper proof of identity would be prosecuted according to the laws of the land.
Olatoyi noted that the registration would help Government and the people to identify and differentiate genuine and lawful herders that are ready to conduct their business peacefully from the unruly ones that are perpetrating illegality and destroying farmlands in the State.
In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matter, Mr. Ebenezer Ogundana said the meeting with representatives of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association and other relevant stakeholders would help to foster good relationships and a peaceful environment in Ekiti State especially among the farmers and the herdsmen.
Ogundana stressed that the registration exercise would enable easy identification of strange faces among the herders adding that bad eggs among them would easily be fished out.
Also speaking, the Director General, Office of Transformation and Strategic Development, Professor Mobolaji Aluko applauded the StateGovernment for always taking proactive steps in ensuring that there is peace and unity among the herdsmen and farmers in the State, stressing that livestock is an essential part of Agriculture that cannot be undermined.
Describing Ekiti as an agrarian State where Agricultural business could easily thrive, Prof Aluko enjoined herders to work with the State Government to maintain peace and Unity.
Reacting, the Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Association in Ekiti State, Alhaji Muhammad Nasamu expressed appreciation to the State Government for accommodating the Herders despite all the crises in some neighboring States across the nation.
He promised to work with the State Government to maintain cordial relationship between the cattle rustlers and the farmers through proper registration and identification of any strange Herders that could cause problem in the State.
Others present at the meeting includes traditional rulers, and the representative of Ebira Community with the Miyetti Allah group leaders in Ekiti State.
Packaged by Emmanuel Adeniran
