Ekiti Council of Elders Wants Fulani Herdsmen Placed On Security Watch

Ekiti Council of Elders has called for the enactment of a law controlling grazing in the state.

The call followed the invasion of Oke Ako town in Ikole Local Government Area of the state on May 20 by criminals suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.

Two persons died from the attack while three others are receiving treatments in the hospital.

The elders, who frowned on destruction of farmlands and killings, in spite of the high level of hospitality of the Ekiti people to the Fulani herdsmen, urged government to resort to regulation through laws to protect the agricultural potential of the state.

Governor Ayodele Fayose during a visit to the town had announced the banning of grazing in the state.

Two accused persons had been arraigned and remanded by a Chief Magistrate’s court in Ado Ekiti for their alleged role in the attack.

He promised to send a bill to the State House of Assembly in respect to that.

The elders advised that the people and the security agencies should keep vigil on the activities of the herdsmen to prevent sudden attack.

This call was contained in a memorandum titled, “Reported Illegal Anti-social Activities of Nomadic Fulani Herdsmen in Ekiti State,” and signed by the Chairman of the Council, Prof. Joseph Oluwasanmi and Standing Committee Chairman, Chief Deji Fasuan which was made available to newsmen on Thursday.

The council stated that regulating grazing would preserve the existing peaceful co-existence between Ekiti and other ethnic nationals resident in the State.