Fulani herdsmen from Ilorin, Kwara State,
but resident in Ekiti state under the aegis
of Jamu Nate Fulbe Association of Nigeria
have criticised the new grazing law signed
by Governor Ayodele Fayose.
The law titled, ” Prohibition of Cattle and
Other Ruminants Grazing in Ekiti, 2016,”
provides that grazing activities must be
from 7am to 6pm on a daily basis.
According to the Speaker of Ekiti State
House of Assembly, any herdsman caught
with firearms and any weapons whatsoever
during grazing shall be charged with
terrorism.
The law also provides that any farm
products destroyed by the activities of any
caught herdsman shall be estimated by
agricultural officer and the expenses shall
be borne by the culprit.
Under the law, anyone found violating the
bill, upon conviction, shall be sentenced to
six months in prison without an option of a
fine.
But the legal adviser to the herdsmen, Mr.
Umar Imam, on Wednesday argued that
herdsmen who carried light weapons like
cutlasses, knives, catapult and arrows
within the time stipulated by the new law
cannot be charged with terrorism.
He added that this contradicted the
Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011.
He said, “The law of the federation on
terrorism is very clear and no one can
be charged for terrorism for carrying lesser
arms like cutlasses, catapults and knives
during the grazing period as contained in
the Ekiti new law.
“I have made it in my submission during
the public hearing on the bill in the Ekiti
state House of Assembly that these Fulani
herdsmen used to use these lesser
weapons for certain purposes that can
make grazing easier.
“I also told them that movement at night
while relocating from one place to another
was to ensure that they don’t wreak havoc
on the people during the day while
relocating to other towns. I expected the
state government to have taken care of
these in the new law rather than total ban.
“What the state government ought to have
done is to allow whoever wants to
relocate at night to take permit from a
certain government authority or inform
their Seriki, but banning them from moving
at night may not help the situation, it will
make their jobs difficult.”
Also, the Seriki of the association in Ekiti,
Alhaji Ahmadu Mahmoud, appealed to the
governor to amend the new law, to allow
his members to carry lesser arms to ward
off attacks during grazing.
Mahmoud, who agreed with the time for
grazing, however criticised the outright
banning of night movement, saying it
would make their jobs difficult and create
more confusion.
“We agree with the governor on the
grazing period of between 7am and 6pm,
but we should be allowed to carry lesser
arms and relocate at night.
“How can somebody who wants to carry
his cattle numbering hundreds from Ekiti
to places like Lokoja, Ibadan or Ilorin
move during the day? These places are
densely populated and it will create traffic
congestion and confusion everywhere. The
government must look into all of these,” he
added.
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