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NGF, Miyetti Allah backs Akeredolu’s order, herders’ registration begins
By Modupe Shodeinde
The Nigeria’s Governor Forum and members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, has supported the order given by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, asking all unregistered herdsmen to vacate the state’s forest reserves.
The Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, on Monday, during a meeting between the NGF and the Miyetti Allah in Akure, had corrected the wrong notions that he ordered the Fulani to vacate the state.
He stated that, “It is not that I asked anybody to leave Ondo State and what we all agreed was that we should have a register so as to be able to identify strangers in the forest. These crimes must be nipped in the bud. We must protect everybody in Ondo State. We won’t play to the gallery,”
It was gathered that herdsmen had started leaving the Ondo State’s forest reserves in deference to the state government’s order, which was backed by governors’ forum and the Miyetti Allah at their meeting on Monday.
The Special Adviser to state Governor on Security, Alhaji Jimoh Dojumo, disclosed that the State Government has started registration of herdsmen in the state.
In an interview with Punch Newspaper, Dojumo stated that his office, alongside the state Ministry of Agriculture and the office of Amotekun Corps, was handling the registration of the herdsmen.
He said, “The registration has commenced already. It has started today. My office, in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Amotekun office, is handling it.”
He confirmed that the herdsmen were already obeying the governor’s order, and stated that the government would be waiting for more herdsmen to register.
At the meeting, the NGF and the cattle breeders had agreed that illegal occupants of the forest reserves should be flushed out irrespective of their ethnic background.
It was agreed that herdsmen who wants to legally operate in the forest reserve should get registered with the state government.
Governors in attendance at the meeting included Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, Gboyega Oyetola of Osun state; Dr Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state; Mohammed Badaru of Jigawa State; Seyi Makinde of Oyo state and Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State.
