Herdsmen have no alternative, must register, says Ondo

Following the agreement reached by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association and other stakeholders on vacation order issued to the herdsmen to leave the forest reserves in Ondo State, the government has said the herders have been moving out of the forest.

The governors and the MACBAN in the communique issued after their meeting on Monday, agree to support the Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s order on ban on night grazing, under-age grazing, movement of cattle along the highway and within the cities and herdsmen moving out of the forest reserves.

Speaking on the development on Tuesday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Alhaji Jimoh Dojumo, said the herdsmen had been moving out of the forest reserves in compliance with the order of the governor.

He said the government was waiting for the herdsmen to register, adding that many herders had indicated an interest in the exercise.

He said, “We have just started, I am sure they would come. The herders don’t have any alternative but to register and anyone who fails to register will not be allowed to operate in the state. The registration has to be total.”

Also speaking, the Ondo State Chairman of MACBAN, Alhaji Garuba Bello, said the herders would begin to register any moment.

“My people are ready to register; let the government go to the forest and monitor how the herdsmen are obeying the order," Bello said.