Ekiti: Fulani herders, farmers take oath of good conduct with kola

To assure Ekiti State and the south-west geo-political zone of their readiness to embrace peace, especially with farmers, the Fulani herders in Ekiti have taken a traditional oath promising to be of good conduct. The herders swore they would not behave unruly, nor kill anybody or allow their cows to stray into farms to destroy […]

To assure Ekiti State and the south-west geo-political zone of their readiness to embrace peace, especially with farmers, the Fulani herders in Ekiti have taken a traditional oath promising to be of good conduct.

The herders swore they would not behave unruly, nor kill anybody or allow their cows to stray into farms to destroy farm gains. 

The traditional oath was administered by the Sarkin Fulani of Kwara State, Alhaji Ardo Mairero, during a peace meeting of all parties involved in the resolution of herdsmen/farmers crisis that had caused about three deaths in communities in the state.

The oath-taking was witnessed by the representative of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau; the National President, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Mohammad Kiruwa; Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose; his deputy, Olusola Kolapo; the Secretary to State Government, Modupe Alade; Chief of Staff, Dipo Anisulowo; Agriculture Commissioner, Kehinde Odebunmi and Miyetti Allah national and zonal leaders.

A communique, co-signed by Fayose, Shekarau, Alade, Kiruwa, National and Zonal Chairman (south-west) of the herders association, Alhaji Mohammad Kabir, and witnessed by Alhaji Nasamu Muhammad, Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Ekiti State, was released yesterday in Ado-Ekiti through the Chief Press Secretary to Fayose, Mr Idowu Adelusi.

Adelusi said the oath was administered with kola and sharing of the kola, which he described as a Fulani tradition binding on the participants.

He added, “With this oath, issues of robbery, killing, damaging of farms and kidnapping, among others allegedly perpetrated by Fulani herders, are over in the state. The meeting and signing of the memorandum by all parties lasted for two hours between 11:00p.m. on Monday 19 and 1:00a.m. of Tuesday, February 20.”

Part of the communique read, “Herdsmen must stop attacks on any member of the host communities. Any herder that breaches the peace should be prepared to face the wrath of the law, and Ekiti people should not provoke the herdsman or kill their cattle.

“It is, therefore, agreed that pastoralists/farmers crises and killings under any guise must stop immediately. The meeting supports the anti-night grazing stand of the law because it protects the interest of all parties, and the law will take its course in the violation of letters of these resolutions.”

Alhaji Shekarau conveyed the concern of the Emir of Kano over the broken-down relationship between herdsmen and host communities he observed had led to loss of lives in Ekiti State and other parts of the country.

The Emir also commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives to the attacks.