Ekiti Herdsmen To Register With ₦5,000 – Gov. Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has said that the herdsmen in the state would now register their identity for ₦5,000 within three months.

The governor also gave a strict warning to the herdsmen against invading farms with their cattle and vowed to prosecute any herdsmen found culpable of killing and destruction of farms.

Naija News gathered that Fayose, on Saturday met the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, farmers, hunters and security operatives in the state.

The governor said, “If you (Fulani herders) still want to stay among us, you must accept the responsibility to ensure that none of our peoples’ farms is destroyed by herdsmen any longer.”

“None of our people must be killed by your men, either they are strangers or those herdsmen living among us.

“If any killing or destruction of farms of our people occurs again in that area, I will ensure that I use the law to fight you their leader on it. This is the last warning I am giving you.”

Fayose said herders’ registration in the state would help to know their identity, locality and perpetrators of any attack.

He said, “Many of the Fulani herdsmen who settled down here did so without permission from anyone. No one can be living with us and we, their host, would not know who they are.

“They said some are strangers who only come briefly but we don’t want that. Now, they would register with government for a token of ₦5,000. It is not their money that we need but their identity and locality. The sum of ₦5,000 would be renewable after a year.”

“We are sending a bill to the state assembly which would be that anyone caught and found guilty of harbouring dangerous Fulani herdsmen would be jailed for five years without an option of fine. So, I urge every resident in Ekiti to report anyone or stranger who is suspected to be a killer Fulani herdsman,” the governor added.

Fayose also bemoaned the killing of a Tiv woman in the state by suspected herdsmen despite his call for caution, saying the activities of the herdsmen had accorded a bad name to President Muhammadu Buhari and other prominent Fulani leaders in the country.

He said, “This killing is giving Fulani people a bad name. If there are no good people among them, how would General Buhari rise to be president? There are doctors, lawyers, engineers and other notable professionals among you. This is denting their names. The greatest of men are the peacemakers.”

“Even though President Buhari does not send people to kill, it is spoiling his name. We are to make sure the killing stops.”

The governor said he remained undaunted and would not rest on his oars to forestall herdsmen attack in his state.

“We won’t be intimidated by the terror of the few. The moment you are caught, you will face the law. The killing by Fulani is worse than Boko Haram. We want one Nigeria because we have gone far. Anyone harbouring criminals will not know peace. Enough is enough. Life is sacred and must be treated as such.

“I’m calling on the federal government to be firm, when actions are taken against this mindless individuals, this killing will stop. It is because they are taking it like a family affairs; this is not in the interest of Nigeria. Ordinary Nigerians can’t carry AK47 or pump action.

“I want you to go back home believing in one Nigeria. These are activities of criminals notwithstanding their ethnic background,” Fayose said.