– Ekiti state government recently signed a law restricting the movement and activities of herdsmen in its communities
– However, the herdsmen have been accused of flouting the provisions of the law with impunity as well as threatening the state
– Fiery Governor Ayodele Fayose says the silence of the federal government to the threat by the herdsmen speaks volume
Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayose, has exposed what he thinks is the alleged link between the federal government currently headed by President Muhammadu Buhari and the herdsmen who have continued with attacking communities without restraint.
Fayose is not happy with the recent threat by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), the umbrella body for herdsmen in Nigeria who openly threatened to wage war against the government and people of Ekiti state.
President Buhari and Fayose
Ekiti state currently has a law that restricts the activities of the herdsmen and Fayose recently arrested some of them for flouting the law.
He however claims MACBAN has lied that four cattle belonging to its members were killed by the newly inaugurated Ekiti Grazing Enforcement Marshal (EGEM).
“Four days after this threat was issued against the government and people of Ekiti state by the Miyetti Allah, the federal government is yet to act in any manner that will disabuse the minds of Ekiti people, who believed that the federal government is in support of the threat.
“The silence of the federal government has no doubt further confirmed the insinuation that there is plot to give tacit support to the herdsmen to invade some border towns and villages in Ekiti state and cause chaos in the State so as to justify the evil agenda of declaration of a state of emergency on the state.
“Nigerians should be reminded that in May, this year, Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria said openly that the reason for the killing of over 1,000 people in Benue state was the killing of over 800 cattle by Tiv youths. In other words, Miyetti Allah boldly told Nigerians that its members (herdsmen) killed over 1,000 Agatu people of Benue state because their cows were killed!” Fayose noted.
According to him, up till today, no one has been arrested for the massacre in Agatu in Benue state and now, “Ekiti state and its people are being threatened by this same Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, and the federal government has pretended as if nothing was wrong.
“From the words and antecedents of the Miyatti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, it is clear that they have assurance beyond their personal minds from the federal government to kill Nigerians in place of their cows. If not, by now, the man who signed that press statement, threatening the entire people of Ekiti State ought to have been arrested and questioned.
“Therefore, in view of the above, we wish to tell Nigerians and the entire world that in the event of any invasion of Ekiti state by killer herdsmen, the federal government should be held responsible.
“The herdsmen and those urging them on should also be informed that any attack on one Ekiti person is an attack on all Ekitis and we shall not sit back and allow our people to be killed under the guise of cattle rearing.”
The governor said in the event of federal government’s security agencies refusing to secure the lives and properties of Ekiti people, the people will have no option than to defend themselves.
President Buhari and Fayose
Fayose, in the speech made available to NAIJ.com, also told the people of the state to be battle-ready since the government has refused to say anything or come to the rescue of the residents.
Hear him: “I am therefore using this opportunity to put Ekiti people, especially residents of border towns in the state on red alert. Ekiti people must be prepared to defend their land against these Philistines whose attributes and characters are extremism, violence, bloodshed and destruction.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Prohibition of Cattle and other Ruminants Grazing in Ekiti State Bill, 2016 that was signed into law on August 29, 2016 remains in force.
“Nigeria is a federation and each state is empowered by law to make laws to protects its people.
“Therefore, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria should rather tell its members to comply with this law by seeking from the government designated land for grazing ranch, which the government is always willing to give.
“Five cattle that were arrested last week are being kept in the government ranch and their owners can take them back as soon as the necessary fines are paid.
“It is strange that the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria kept silent when its members killed two people and injured several others in Oke Ako in Ekiti state. So strange that the same Miyetti Allah that defended the murder of over 1,000 Agatu people of Benue state and kept silent when herdsmen killed over 100 people killed in Enugu state and a traditional ruler was killed in Delta State suddenly found its voice when Ekiti state government decided to curb the murderous activities
“activitiet Miyetti Allah that is now calling on President Mohammadu Buhari to warn me, the custodian of the mandate of Ekiti people warn its members when they were killing Nigerians and destroying farmlands?
“Are their cows more important than human lives?
“To us in Ekiti, the lives of 5,000 cows cannot be equated with those of human beings that are being killed daily by herdsmen across the country.
“Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria should know that cattle farmers are not different from other farmers. If they want to rear cows in Ekiti, they should do so in accordance with the laws of the State. After all, law prohibiting sale and consumption of alcohol was made in Kano state and the law is being enforced while Sharia Law made in some States in the north is also being enforced.”
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