Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, has called on his colleagues across the country to ban cattle grazing in their states as a step to stop the incessant killings of farmers by atrocious herdsmen.
The Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communication and New Media, Mr. Lere Olayinka, said this while speaking on Rave F.M, Osogbo during a programme, Frank Talk, monitored by our correspondent on Tuesday.
Fayose had on Monday banned cattle grazing in Ekiti State following the attack on Oke Ako community in Ikole Local Government Area of the state where two persons were killed and others injured by suspected herdsmen.
The governor’s aide said President Muhammadu Buhari, who was elected by Nigerians to protect their lives and property was doing nothing to protect the defenceless people from frequent attacks by the rampaging herdsmen, who were his kinsmen.
He said, “The people are angry because the person elected to secure their lives is keeping quiet and taking side with these Fulani criminals, I don’t want to call them herdsmen. Herdsmen to my mind do not carry Ak-47.
“These people are another version of Boko Haram that should be tackled headlong. We saw the Agatu killings and we don’t need to wait till they kill over 400 people before we act. That was why we took this step (banning cattle grazing) in Ekiti. I want to believe other governors will emulate this.”
Virtually all those who called during the programme urged governors especially those in the southern part of the country to emulate Fayose to liberate their people from the fear of herdsmen.
One of the callers, Femi Adetunji, commended Fayose for taken the step, saying this would stop his people from being constantly terrorized by the herdsmen.
Another caller from Moro, Vincent Olufemi and Michael Folayan also condemned the activities of the herdsmen and called on other governors to follow Fayose in this direction.
Some of the callers said they never agreed with Fayose on any issue before the ban but expressed their support for him on the new policy. – Punch.
