Gov’t bans night cattle-grazing, arms bearing

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has banned cattle grazing at night and carrying of arms by herdsmen in the state. The governor has also set up a seven-man committee to check clashes between herdsmen and farmers across the 18 local government areas of the state. His spokesman, Cruso Osagie, said in a statement yesterday that […]

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has banned cattle grazing at night and carrying of arms by herdsmen in the state.

The governor has also set up a seven-man committee to check clashes between herdsmen and farmers across the 18 local government areas of the state.

His spokesman, Cruso Osagie, said in a statement yesterday that Obaseki gave the directive after a meeting with Hausa/Fulani leaders from the LGAs.

“We have placed a ban on night herding, nobody should herd cattle at night. We have also placed a ban on hunting activities by people from other states. A special team made up of the police, army, civil defence corps and other security agencies in the state will carry out random patrols and search operations. Any herdsman found possessing firearms will be arrested and charged with illegal possession of firearms as cattle rearers do not need an AK-47 to herd cattle,” he said.

He added: “We will not accept anyone with firearms and anyone found with arms will face the law. We need information to succeed in this fight because information is vital to the police and other security agencies. We assure you of your safety.”

Obaseki charged the committee to review all cases of herdsmen/farmers clashes across the local government areas, adding that government would release the report of the clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the state to the committees for review.

 “The committee will ensure the registration of all Fulani in every community across all the local government areas and they will liaise with everyone rearing cattle in the area,” he added.

He said the committee would meet with representatives of the local government areas to review and examine the progress being made to resolve conflict between herdsmen and farmers in the state every three months.