Ekiti State Farmers/Herders Peace Committee has adopted the resolution reached at the meeting of South West Governors with the national leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Heads of Security Agencies.
Speaking in Ado-Ekiti at its maiden meeting, the Chairman of the Committee who doubles as the Special Adviser on Security Matters to the Governor, Rtd. Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana said the adopted resolution in addition to the terms of reference of the Committee will guide them in the discharge of their mandate.
Rtd. Brig. Gen. Ogundana who affirmed that the security and welfare of all residents of the state irrespective of tribe, religion or profession is paramount and non-negotiable, enumerated terms of reference of the Committee to include: registration of all settlers in communities within the state, visit to local govenment areas to identify Fulani Heads, regular meeting with Head of Community/Settlement.
Others are: Control of grazing in line with anti-grazing law and Ondo State Governor’s meeting guidelines, liaison with herders/farmers in the community, liaison with traditional leaders on the activity of committee at settlement, sensitize the settlement on the need for local vigilante.
The remaining are: investigate breach of activities of herders and farmers, recommend appropriate sanctions and generation of database for all the Fulani settlers in each community and local government area.
The Chairman urged herders and farmers in the state to close ranks and work in sync as this will assist to easily identify and fish out criminals masquerading among them.
He advised that cases of violations, breach of activities, disaffection etc should be brought to the Committee for intervention and possible settlement.
In his remarks, the Co-Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Mobolaji Aluko, said the Committee was constituted to make farmers/herders interactions more peaceful.
He stated that the Committee members are made up of stakeholders selected from all concerned sectors.
Present at the meeting were other members of the committee namely:
