The Emir of Kano, Mohammed Sanusi II, has said any herdsman who kills another individual should be made to face the law.
The Emir, represented by former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, said this in Ekiti State on Tuesday at a meeting of representatives of the state government, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), heads of security agencies and other stakeholders.
“I commiserate with the people and government of Ekiti state over the recent herdsmen attack that led to the loss of lives. I wish to state that any herdsman who takes another person’s life should be made to face the legal consequence,” he said.
The Emir praised the Ekiti State government for how it has handled the farmers-herdsmen crisis in the state and called on herdsmen to be law abiding.
In 2016, amid increasing reports of attacks by herdsmen, Governor Ayo Fayose had signed a bill aimed at curtailing the activities of herdsmen into law.
Under the law, ‘Prohibition of Cattle and Other Ruminants Grazing in Ekiti, 2016’, cattle grazing is prohibited in some areas and the grazing time is limited to the period between 7 am to 6 pm, among other things.
Both the Emir and the MACBAN Presisent, Muhammadu Kiruwa, who has been critical of the anti-grazing law in Benue, praised the state’s anti-grazing law and the participatory approach adopted by Governor Fayose in handling the situation.
They commended the governor for taking the lead in engaging stakeholders and aggrieved parties in public discussions aimed at calming nerves and engendering peace.
Governor Fayose told the meeting that a combination of dialogue, fine-tuning the state anti-grazing law, deemphasising reprisals, wielding the big stick, and granting amnesty where necessary was necessary to get desirable results.
“For those who are ready to surrender their weapons, we will consider granting them amnesty, we are also amending the anti-grazing law to ensure undue aggression by host communities is also put under check,” he said.
The Governor, the emir’s representative and the MACBAN leader later signed a peace pact after deliberation behind closed doors.
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