...rejects creation of new cattle routes_

From Abuja, Kenneth Udeh

In a bid to find lasting solutions to the persistent farmers/herders’ clashes in the country the Senate on Tuesday considered enacting a law to ban open grazing , this is just as the Lawmakers rejected a motion seeking for the creation of new grazing routes for cattle rearers.

At the conclusion of its deliberations the Senate resolved to constitute an ad-hoc committee to organize a national summit to unravel the underlying causes of farmers/herders’ clashes.

A minute of silence was also observed by the Lawmakers in honour of those who were killed in Omala LGA and urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide the survivors now living in internally displaced persons’ camps with relief materials to enable them to return to their ancestral homes.

The resolutions of the members of the Red Chambers are sequel to the consideration of a motion on the attack and killing of residents in Omala Local Government Area in Kogi state by herdsmen.

The motion was moved by Senator Isah Jibrin (APC – Kogi East).

While passing their resolutions on Jibrin's motion, the Senate unanimously rejected an additional prayer by Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno (APC – Borno North) and seconded by Kaka Shehu Lawan (Borno Central) which called on the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to create new grazing routes in the country as a panacea to solve farmer/herder crisis.

Jibrin in his lead debate lamented an attack on his constituents in Omala local government of Kogi state by herders where he alleged that over 500 persons were killed and their houses razed by the invading herders.

Jibrin informed the Senate that Omala LGA has been under recurring attacks by gunmen, leading to killings and destruction of properties and farmlands, thereby rendering many homeless with no means of sustenance.

His lead debate read; "Worried that Agojeju Odo, Ajokpachi Odo, Bagaji, and Bagana communities have been ravaged by recent gunmen, rendering over 30,000 inhabitants of the communities homeless, leading to exodus of these inhabitants to other parts of Kogi State".


Senator Ahmad Lawan mentioned herders of Fulani extraction being behind the attacks. Lawan frowned at the killings, Kidnappings and destruction committed by the herders.

He urged the government to provide for the sustainability of livestock business in the country saying that it is worth 30-33 trillion annually.

He added that herders who have lost their cattle to rustling should be assisted by the government to acquire livestock to keep them occupied and productive.

"Let's say here that the Fulani herders are behind these attacks. I mean the bad one among them. "This is a security issue as much as it is an economic issue. We should say it as it is because we are looking for solutions.

"It is very important for the Senate President to lead the Senate to have a national summit on livestock development. I believe that we have to be very decisive with our security agencies to make sure that they protect our People, he said.

A call for a total ban on open-grazing made by Senator Victor Umeh received the support of Senator Titus Zam said the only solution to the menace of farmer/herder clashes is to establish cattle ranches.

He said; "The only option is having a law prohibiting open grazing in this country. Once you have that law in place those involved in animal husbandry will now know that its unlawful to carry animals to Zamfara, Makurdi and along the way you kill everybody along the route.

"To stop the killing of innocent people by these herders I suggest that open grazing Prohibition law must be enacted by this Senate so that those who engage in animal husbandry must be compelled to go into ranching.

Senator Musa Garba however said that though ranching is a solution , average herders in the country would not have the needed financial resources to feed and sustain their livestock without help from the federal government.

Giving a personal account Garba explained that he spends nothing less than N80 million every month to feed and maintain his ranch worth N90 million and wondered how an average herder can afford such a huge sum.

He lamented that out of the three military forward operating bases proposed for Kebbi state to curb banditry only one has been established which he admitted has reduced banditry attacks by 80%.

He however worried that the military is spending its huge annual Appropriation if state governments still need to provide funds for their operations.

According to him, the Governor of Kebbi State, Dauda Lawal, reliably informed him that he allegedly funds the security operations of the military deployed to the state with N500 million monthly.

Senator Adams Oshiomhole and Karimi Sunday threw their weight behind the call for a national summit.

In his submission Karimi gave an account of how a young man was killed by the herders while returning from his farm including the Kidnapping of another woman.

“The issue of farmers and herdsmen has been an occurring decimal in our nation,” he said.

“About two weeks ago, a very industrious woman in a community in my senatorial district – they went into her place and kidnapped her.

“We had to pay a lot of money to rescue her. This is something we have to look at holistically. I suggest that we have a national summit on this.”


https://sunnewsonline.com/senate-mulls-permanent-ban-on-open-grazing/?amp

Good

Why are we romancing this Open grazing issues for long now

Let keep playing in this country and acting politically correct. Fulani will keep taking you fools for a ride.

They have got no balls to tackle awon kidnappers

The past Government was partly responsible for blowing up the Farmers and Herders clash.The past president kept insisting on something very weird, that herders route had been Gazetted and farmers were encroaching on the property
This type of statements emboldened the Herdsmen who felt they could trample on everyone who dared to resist them.A few years ago,I encountered some herdsmen in a community, the boldness with which they insulted the landowners was something I couldn't understand
The Villagers informed us that they were helpless,as every time issues got to the authorities the herdsmen were always released back to the community and there was nothing they could do
Cow business is private business,let cow owners buy land and do their business.There is a Bank of Agriculture, Cow owners can apply for loans to buy land.They are not the only ones doing business in Nigeria

Ban it to end the conflict

Naijadaily:


A call for a total ban on open-grazing made by Senator Victor Umeh received the support of Senator Titus Zam said the only solution to the menace of farmer/herder clashes is to establish cattle ranches.

He said; "The only option is having a law prohibiting open grazing in this country.

Ranches, and Nigerians called it Ruga and then killed it in fear it meant free land for Fulani, as if Fulani can rear cattle on ranches.

We shall learn in due time, I guess.

budaatum:
I wonder what they've been waiting for. Bet they never supported the Livestock Transformation Development Plan that many derogatively called Ruga though that would have forced cattle rearing on to a ranch and out of the hands of the cattle rearing Fulanis.

https://www.nairaland.com/6605367/ruga-kicks-off-gombe#102768636

Implementation is the key

Over 15 states have already enacted the law, but how many of them are currently implementing it

If true !!!

Every Nigerian should support that 😀

We hope so oo

Owner of the cows don leave government

Making laws that cannot be truly enforced.

This people want to finish buhari and his people kpatakpata how will fulanis now achieve their age long usman dan fodio dream of conquering the whole southern nigeria?