From the beginning of time, man has been endowed with the intellect to control and tame animals to meet his food and other needs. This has made animal husbandry one of the earliest professions known to man. .

In pre-colonial Nigeria and up to the present day, domestication and rearing of animals has been a recurring feature. Such animals as goats, cattle, pigs, ducks, guinea fowls etc. have been used for food, traditional sacrifice as well as merchandize. Therefore, the rearing of these animals is not a recent phenomenon. It is a part of our history. No dispute ever arose from such activity as the owners of such animals were responsible for the housing and feeding of the animals. Where in rare situations they strayed onto the property or farmland of another person, and cause any damage, the  owner  of the animals hastens to make good the damage caused. In this way, societal harmony was maintained.

n the past years however, especially since the turn of the millennium, certain individuals especially of the Fulani ethnic stock have emerged seeking to change the narrative about cattle breeding and animal husbandry generally. Moving about with their cattle, they trample upon other peoples farms and devour farm produce with reckless abandon. The annual labour of farmers struggling to eke out a living are wiped out in one fell swoop.

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It was the Chinua Achebe who stated in his work, Things Fall Apart the following Ibo proverb to wit, “let the kite perch and the eagle also. Anyone that says no to the other, let his wings break”.  Cattle rearing is a business venture just like the farmer who has planted cassava and potatoes and yams and vegetables. No one is superior to the other. However, while the farmer seeks out a piece of fertile land and cultivates same for several months, the herdsman sees the whole world as his grazing field. This is inequitable, and unacceptable by any standard.

To be continued or Read full article here http://www.asabametro.com/2017/02/grazing-reserves-in-the-niger-delta-and-a-keg-of-gun-powder/#.WLRSwYMo_Jt