Herdsmen crisis: Miyetti Allah, other stakeholders seek end to open grazing in Ogun, want private ranches

Major stakeholders in Ogun State have spoken up in unison against open grazing of animals, saying it will put an end to the incessant clashes between herders and farmers.

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The stakeholders made their views known on Wednesday when the Ogun State House of Assembly held a public hearing on the proposed Animal Grazing and Cattle Ranch Establishment Law, 2020.

LIST OF APPLICATIONS FOR REGULARISATION OF AREA COUNCIL LAND DOCUMENTS NULLIFIED/CANCELLED BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF FCT

They all reached a consensus that the State should do away with the creation of a designated grazing route and allow individual cattle rearers/herders apply for land to build ranches for their cattle.

LIST OF APPLICATIONS FOR REGULARISATION OF AREA COUNCIL LAND DOCUMENTS NULLIFIED/CANCELLED BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF FCT

The stakeholders emphasised that the recurring farmers/herders clashes have on many occasions snowballed into kidnapping, cattle rustling and other criminal activities in some parts of the state.

Those who spoke at the public hearing include a representative of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Isiaka Ibrahim; representatives of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Comrade Yinka Folarin; Abel Solanke of the Cattle Rearers; a Private Farmer, Ven. Olubunmi Adekunle; State Chairman of the Farm Settlers Associations, Olalekan Odufo, State Chairman; Animal Science Association of Nigeria, Kuforiji Olayinka, Transition Chairman of Ijebu-East, Falujo Olalekan and His Imeko-Afon counterpart, Mr. Olusola Oke and others.

While taking turns to speak in favour of the bill at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the stakeholders described the proposed law as “an all-encompassing legislative instrument meant to improve the peaceful co-existence in the state, especially between farmers and herders.”

As they called for the abolition of open grazing, the stakeholders said the ranching system would give the best solution to cattle rearing in modern practice.

Earlier, the Speaker of the Ogun Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo, mentioned that the forum was in line with present legislative practice and procedure.

Oluomo assured that the bill will be given accelerated passage to regulate animal grazing in the state.

Many residents of Yewa North were said to have relocated to the neighbouring Benin Republic to avoid being killed.

Meanwhile, a peace committee set up by Governor Dapo Abiodun is making efforts to restore normalcy to all troubled areas in the state.