The Ekiti State government has declared that the full weight of the law will be visited on any herdsman caught with dangerous weapons.
It also promised to empower security agencies in the state to ensure the arrest and prosecution of herdsmen destroying farmlands and attacking farmers and other residents.
The Deputy Governor Bisi Egbeyemi disclosed this Thursday at a peace meeting held with representatives of herders and farmers at the Government House in Ado-Ekiti in the wake of recent alleged attacks on farmers in some communities by suspected herdsmen.
A statement signed by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Deputy Governor, Odunayo Ogunmola, revealed that the meeting was attended by representatives of Fulani, Hausa, Ebira, Urhobo, Yoruba communities, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders and Ekiti Grazing and Enforcement Marshals (EGEM).
Egbeyemi warned that it was unacceptable to the state government for herdsmen to be carrying AK-47 rifles and other dangerous weapons, stressing that security agencies have been mobilised to arrest anyone of them caught with weapons.
The deputy governor particularly warned the Sarkin Fulani in Ekiti State Muhammad Abashe that he would be held responsible should there be any further attacks on farmers on their farm lands.
Egbeyemi said the state government would not tolerate a repeat of the attack on Orin Farm Settlement in Ido/Osi Local Government Area last year in which a pregnant Tiv farmer was killed.
He said: “We have given a marching order to security agencies to arrest herdsmen carrying weapons. As from now, the full wrath of the law will be visited on any herdsman caught with dangerous weapons.
“Herdsmen going about with AK-47 rifles, what are they doing with such? Will they use AK-47 rifles on animals or human being? Tell your people, that will not be tolerated in Ekiti land
