Tension as Fulani, Yoruba leaders clash, Amotekun rounds up hundreds of cows

Tension is building up as there is fear ahead of the enforcement of the September 1 ban on open grazing in the Southern part of the country.

It was gathered that photos seen on social media showed how Amotekun operatives allegedly rounded up hundreds of cows hours after the bill on open grazing was passed to law on Tuesday, 31st August, 2021 in Akure, Ondo State Capital.

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of the Sunshine State signed into law the Anti-open grazing bill to prevent herdsmen of open grazing across his State.

It could be recalled that Southern governors had on July 5, 2021, announced a ban on open grazing across their region during a meeting held in Lagos State, and the resolution of the parley was made public by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, declaring the ban following the killing of farmers and the sacking of some communities in their region by armed herders.

The Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, through its spokesman, Jare Ajayi, had urged the Federal Government not to jeopardize the enactment of the law by the governors, saying the federal government should allow the governors to use their regional security outfits to enforce the ban. He added that the Amotekun and Ebube Agu should be empowered to enforce the law.

Meanwhile, the National Secretary of the Miyetti Allah Kauta Hore, Saleh Alhassan, had vowed that its members would not recognize any anti-open grazing policy in the country ahead of the September 1 deadline, describing the ban as satanic, hence would be discarded.

However, while speaking with journalist, Ajayi said Afenifere would not join issues with Miyetti Allah Kauta Hore, adding that Afenifere backs the Southern governors to enforce the enacted anti-grazing law.

He said: “We stand solidly behind the governors, and we urge them to forge ahead. As far as this matter is concerned, we won’t join issues with Miyetti Allah; we have no business with them. Everybody knows that where a law has been passed, anybody who violates that law is an offender and must face whatever penalty that law specifies. The fact that you don’t recognize a law, or you are ignorant of it does not mean that when you violate that law you are not culpable.

“So, whatever Miyetti Allah is saying that they don’t recognize the law is none of our business. Our stand is that the governors promulgated the law legitimately having gone through the normal process; it has to be obeyed.” He explained.

Daily Post.