Former presidential aspirant Adamu Garba has added his voice to the controversy between herdsmen and residents in the South-West region.
Garba took to his Twitter page on Sunday to criticise nomadic cow grazing and said it makes no sense for cows to be roaming about in 2021.
“I’m a Fulani man, but I can tell you that it doesn’t make sense for cows to be roaming the streets in 2021,” he tweeted.
Garba advised that instead of grazing, herdsmen should acquire a land or rent for ranching. Because by law, land can only be acquired through purchase or rent.
“Cows should be ranched on a land acquired or rented by the ranchers.
“By law, land can only be used through rent or purchase. Govt should step forward & clear this out.
“I believe, to reconcile the raging herders crisis is to open proper communication where each knows the laws of the land.
“All lands in Nigeria, including forests belongs to some entity, FG, SGs, LGs, Company’s or individuals.
“Thus no land can be used without proper authorization”
Garba continued that the challenge local herders face that makes them move to different lands to find suitable land for grazing is as a result of the city Fulanis who refused to carry the local Fulanis along with the modern way of rearing cows.
He then urged the rich Fulanis to come together and get ranching lands. He also advised that proper communication should be given to the herders in understanding the laws surrounding land use.
“The problem of the Fulani herders is a betrayal from the city Fulanis, who decided, after moving to cities, acquiring wealth & power, but forget to carry the village brothers along, leaving them in a desperate situation.
“The rich Fulanis must come together & get ranching lands.
“Land issue is as old as humanity, no any state power can give land to anyone where the land is been identified with owners for generations, without purchasing or renting.
“The rich Fulani’s must come together & assist our fellow brothers to get reaching land or forest for grazing
“Lack of proper communication to the herders in understanding the law of land use, by being the surrounding communities onboard isn’t good enough.
“It may well be a breeding ground for a circlical conflicts, a very ripe situation for civil war.
“This must be avoided AT ALL COST.”
Herdsmen have been mired in controversy over allegations that they are responsible for the rising spate of kidnappings and killings in the South-West.
Last week, Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu issued a vacation order to unregistered herdsmen who graze their cows along the state’s forest reserves. The governor said he gave the directive owing to the rising spate of kidnappings and insurgency in the state.
Also, a youth leader in Oyo state, Sunday Adeyemo better known as Sunday Igboho issued a quit notice to herdsmen in the Igangan, Ibarapa north local government area of the state.
He had blamed herders and Fulanis, including Saliu Kadri, the Seriki Fulani, of being behind the rising insecurity in the area.
