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Miyetti Allah defies Akeredolu’s quit notice to herdsmen
BY NICHOLAS ABE
The battle line appears to have been drawn between the Ondo State Government and the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) over who takes control of the luscious green vegetation of the Ondo Forest Reserve.
Earlier report, Monday, from Akure, saw Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, handing out an ultimatum to herdsmen to vacate the state’s Forest Reserves within seven days, owing to what he described as part of a major step at addressing the root cause of kidnapping and other nefarious activities in the state.
Akeredolu in an announcement published on his Twitter handle said, “These unfortunate incidents are traceable to the activities of some bad elements masquerading as herdsmen.”
According to the governor, “These felons have turned our forest reserves into hideouts for keeping victims of kidnapping, negotiating for ransom and carrying out other criminal activities.
“As the Chief Law and Security Officer of the State, it is my constitutional obligation to do everything lawful to protect the lives and property of all residents of the State. In light of the foregoing, the following orders are hereby issued:
“1. All Forest Reserves in the State are to be vacated by herdsmen within the next 7 days with effect from today, Monday 18th January, 2021.
“2. Night-grazing is banned with immediate effect because most farm destruction takes place at night.
“3. Movement of cattle within cities and highways is prohibited.
“4. Under-aged grazing of cattle is outlawed.
“Our resolution to guarantee safety of lives and property within the State shall remain utmost as security agencies have been directed to enforce the ban.
“In its usual magnanimity, our administration will give a grace period of seven days for those who wish to carry on with their cattle-rearing business to register with appropriate authorities.”
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But the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, the apex association of herdsmen in the country, reacting to the executive order said it was not aware of any ultimatum by Governor Akeredolu that herdsmen should vacate the forest reserves in Ondo State.
In a report published by The Punch, the Secretary-General, MACBAN, Usman Baba-Ngelzerma, said his members attended a meeting with Akeredolu but all that was discussed was putting a stop to night grazing and the activities of child herders.
Baba-Ngelzerma said if such an order was made, it would only be right for the state government to provide an alternative for the pastoralists.
He said he was not aware of Akeredolu’s order and would wait for an official communication before taking any action.
“The governor had a two-hour meeting today and the chairman of MACBAN in Ondo State was there and what he told me was that the agreement they reached was that we should stop night grazing and stop allowing cows to graze around government properties and that we should cooperate with Amotekun and help fish out bad eggs among them.
“That is what we were told. There was no discussion about vacating. But if they asked them to vacate the forest reserves, have they provided an alternative for them to graze? Where will they graze if they leave the forest reserves?
“As it is now, we are not aware of any order to vacate. My chairman is not aware. Even I, just read about it in the media. When we have confirmed, we will know what to do.”
He further said Nigerians must be aware of the fact that not all herdsmen are members of Miyetti Allah.