Open Grazing Ban: You Are Not Above The Law, We Will Defend Our Land – Akeredolu Tells Miyetti Allah

Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu has told the Miyetti Allah Hataul Hore that the ban on open grazing will continue in Ondo State and other southwestern states.

This is as he warned members of the Miyetti Allah group that they are not above the law, telling them to key into the new government policy.

The Governor in a statement on Wednesday through his aide on Special Duties and Strategy, Dr. Doyin Odebowale added that there is no going back on the ban on open grazing.

Akeredolu told the Miyetti Allah group that it is obvious they are not interested in finding solutions to the frequent clashes between herdsmen and farmers and the resultant loss of lives and property but only out to secure their selfish interests.

He noted that no bandit or criminal will be allowed to operate in the state under any guise and those caught will be dealt with accordingly.

He said the government has the “responsibility to implement the law for the benefit of the people of the state and those, who may share in their aspiration for development of their God-given space.”

“They claim to be above the law of any State in the Federation. They warn of the imminent breach of peace and promotion of pervasive anarchy if they are not allowed to ravage the sweat and toil of the long-suffering farmers who, apparently, don’t count for much in the scheme of things in their estimation.

“No part of our land will be given to foreigners who cling to a dubious regional protocol as an instrument validating dispossession. Let him practice his cultural practices on his father’s land. His likes will not be permitted to operate with impunity in Ondo State. We will defend our land.”

Meanwhile, Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has accused the presidency of providing undue support for the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association because it is a part of the group.

He said this has emboldened the group to go against directives issued by the state governments and continue to kill innocent farmers across the nation.

Ortom alleged further that over 1.5 milion people have been displaced from their ancestral lands by the Miyeti Allah group in Benue State alone.

The Governor vowed to continue defending the rights of the people and insisted he won’t keep quiet until what is right is done and justice is served.