Herdsmen Throw Out Fayose’s Anti-grazing Law


Fulani herdsmen from Ilorin, Kwara State, but resident in Ekiti state under the aegis of Jamu Nate Fulbe Association of Nigeria have condemned the new grazing law signed by Governor Ayodele Fayose.

The law titled, ” Prohibition of Cattle and Other Ruminants Grazing in Ekiti, 2016,” provides that grazing activities must be from 7am to 6pm on a daily basis.

According to the Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, any herdsman caught with firearms and any weapons whatsoever during grazing shall be charged with terrorism. Also, any farm products destroyed by the activities of any caught herdsman shall be estimated by agricultural officer and the expenses shall be fully borne by the culprit.

In addition, anyone found violating the bill, upon conviction, shall be sentenced to six months in prison without an option of a fine.

However, in another development. the legal adviser to the herdsmen, Mr. Umar Imam, on Wednesday maintained that herdsmen who carried light weapons like cutlasses, knives, catapult and arrows within the time stipulated by the new law cannot be charged with terrorism. While adding that this contradicted the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011.

In his words, “The law of the federation on terrorism is very clear and no one can
be charged for terrorism for carrying lesser arms like cutlasses, catapults and knives during the grazing period as contained in the Ekiti new law.

 “I have made it in my submission during the public hearing on the bill in the Ekiti  state House of Assembly that these Fulani herdsmen used to use these lesser weapons for certain purposes that can make grazing easier.

 “I also told them that movement at night while relocating from one place to another was to ensure that they don’t wreak havoc on the people during the day while relocating to other towns. I expected the state government to have taken care of these in the new law rather than total ban.

 “What the state government ought to have done  is to allow whoever wants to relocate at night to take permit from a certain government authority or inform their Seriki, but banning them from moving at night may not help the situation, it will make their jobs difficult.”

The Seriki of the association in Ekiti, Alhaji Ahmadu Mahmoud, also made an appeal to the governor to see that the new law is amended to allow his members to carry lesser arms to protect themselves should  they be attacked during grazing.

Mahmoud, while  agreeing with the new grazing time space, however bashed the outright prohibition of night movement for the herdsmen, relating that it would make their jobs uneasy and instigate more confusion.

He went on to say : “We agree with the governor on the grazing period of between 7am and 6pm, but we should be allowed to carry lesser arms and relocate at night.

 “How can somebody who wants to carry his cattle numbering hundreds from Ekiti to  places  like Lokoja, Ibadan or Ilorin move during the day? These places are densely populated and it will create traffic congestion and confusion everywhere. The government must look into all of these,”

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