Governors under the agies of Nigerian Governors Forum,NGF today condemned criminal activities by bandits, kidnappers, rapists among others who hide in forests to unleash mayhem on innocent citizens.
Some of the governors on Monday met with the national leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, MACBAN, in Akure, Ondo State capital.
They include Governors, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State; Muhammadu Abubakar of Jigawa State; Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State; Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State and the NGF Chairman who is also the governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi.
The governors vowed to protect citizens of their state from the incessant attacks and promote good neighborliness through collaborative efforts.
In his remark, Governor Makinde said the meeting is not about politics but a meeting about a serious challenge facing them.
According to him, they will not use criminality to solve criminality as nobody can predict what will end such, as they will continue to work with their people to face the kidnappers, bandits, armed robbers who are their common enemies.
He added that he will continue to promote good neigbourliness and support the security agencies for them to do their work.
The governor also promised that “we will continue to expand the economy and provide job opportunities for our people. We will continue to provide the leadership that the country needs at this time.”
On his part, Governor Oyetola said criminality has no ethnic coloration and that some criminals are masquerading as herdsmen and must be identified.
According to him, in Osun State we have a committee made up of Farmers-Herdsmen represented by MACBAN and government representatives, standing Committee will help.
In his words, “I recommend this for other states. Sometimes it’s a question of communication. Every Nigerian has a right to stay anywhere in the country.
Also speaking, Jigawa State governor, Mohammed Abubakar said he is delighted to be at the meeting and appreciates the position of his colleagues.
He however stressed that “There’s so much instigation in the south and in the north by those who don’t wish the country well to cause the crisis.
The governor added that they won’t tolerate criminality in any form and fight criminals – ethnic or religious inclination notwithstanding.
“In Jigawa, criminality is very low, everyone is engaged in fighting crime, even MACBAN do arrest criminals. The Ondo Governor did not order Fulani herdsmen out of Ondo State he only said he wants to identify and profile those who will operate in the forests. Commend the collaboration among the security agencies in securing the country,” Abubakar said.
On his part, the Kebbi State governor, Abubakar Bagudu in his address said insecurity is the same across the country.
“We need to invest in modernisation of pastoral farming to reduce crisis. Security agencies should work together to identify and apprehend criminally minded individuals in the society, whether they are Fulanis or not.”
Similarly, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State appreciated his Ekiti State counterpart for initiating the meeting.
He said kidnappers are using forest reserves as an area of operation for kidnapping.
“Even our Farmers are registered, we all agreed no night grazing, no underaged grazing. We will ban grazing in cities. I assure you we can all work together to chase all criminals from the state. We must be able to identify and move them out of the forest reserves. We must protect everyone living in Ondo State,” Akeredolu said.
According to the National President of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, MACBAN, Muhammadu Kirowa, they are a peaceful and democratic group.
Kirowa who spoke through National Secretary of the Association, Baba Ngelzama, sued for peace and stressed that dialogue is key to ensuring peaceful coexistence.
According to him, poor management of the relationship between herders and farmers led to clashes recently recorded.
He, however, pointed out that members of MACBAN are worse affected by insecurity in the country where 10,000 have been killed and over 5000 cows rustled.
He said MACBAN was open to working with the government to combat all forms of criminality because they are a peaceful democratic association.
All our state excos are to work with security outfits within the ambit of the law. We condemn all forms of criminality and will not condone such,” the Miyetti Allah leader said.
He also supported that night grazing must stop all over the country noting that it is the major cause of conflicts between farmers and herders