Desire to curb the recurring clashes between herders and farmers in Kwara State, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has banned underage grazing, as well as grazing in the night.
National President of MACBAN, Alhaji Baba Othman-Ngelzarma, made this announcement in Ilorin during the inauguration of a new executive for the Kwara State chapter of the association at the weekend.
Othman-Ngelzarma emphasized the need for peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders in the state, urging the new executive to prioritize harmony between the two groups.
“We have instructed our members and the new executive to ensure that there is mutual understanding between pastoralists and farmers in Kwara State. No one should trespass on farmland or allow underage boys to graze cattle at night. This is unacceptable,” he said.
According to the MACBAN president, night grazing is often a deliberate act to provoke conflict. “Anyone engaging in night grazing is intentionally stirring up trouble. We do not support this practice, and if we catch anyone involved, we will personally hand them over to the security agencies for appropriate action,” he added.
He noted that the association recognizes the value both farmers and pastoralists place on their livelihoods, stating, “We understand that a cow is as dear to the heart of a pastoralist as crops are to a farmer.”
Othman-Ngelzarma lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for creating the Ministry of Livestock, a move he believes will significantly boost the country’s economy.
“We have been advocating for this ministry for decades, and we appreciate President Tinubu for establishing it. If properly managed, it will transform the economy, attract foreign exchange, and save the country over $2 billion in importation costs,” he said.
The MACBAN leader also addressed the growing insecurity in the country, which he described as increasingly complex and involving criminal activities such as kidnapping and banditry.
He called for a united front to combat the issue, noting that pastoralists are both perpetrators and victims of these crimes.
“Criminality is criminality. Everyone involved should be treated equally. It is unfair to treat some differently in other parts of the country. We must all come together, including the media, to solve this problem,” Othman-Ngelzarma said.
He further urged traditional rulers, security agencies, and non-state actors to define their roles in resolving the security challenges.
In his remarks, the newly inaugurated chairman of MACBAN in Kwara State, Alhaji Idris Abubakar, pledged to spread the message of peace to all herders in the state.
Similarly, Hon. Muhammad Abdullahi Seriki, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Inter-Community Relations (Fulani), stated that the new MACBAN leadership, which consists of over 90 percent youth, will work to ensure peace in the state.
According to Seriki, the unrest between farmers and herders is being fuelled by certain elements, but he expressed optimism that the youthful energy of the new leadership will help foster harmony.
