Ilorin Fulani herdsmen begs Fayose to lift ban

Fulanis from Ilorin have appealed to the Ekiti state governor, Ayo Fayose to lift the ban placed on open grazing – The Fulani leader said his members had over 3 million cattle across Ekiti and restricting them would bring their businesses to a halt Share on FacebookShare on TwitterGovernor Ayodele Fayose, while addressing local hunters at Oke-Ako Ekiti yesterday, May 23 Fulanis from Ilorin have appealed to the Ekiti state governor, Ayo Fayose to lift the ban placed on open grazing to save the cattle business of their members across the state. According to National Mirror, the Seriki of the Fulani from Ilorin, Alhaji Mahmood Ahmadu, exonerated his members of complicity in the attack launched by suspected herdsmen on Oke Ako Ekiti last Friday, leading to the death of two persons. The governor had during his visit to Oke Ako in Ikole Local Government on Monday, announced the ban on open grazing, advising farmers interested in cattle rearing to have their private ranches. Ahmadu, who said he had over 100,000 members in the state, said those who had their residences and property in Oke Ako, Irele and Ipao Ekiti had vacated them as a result of the order given by the governor that any cattle seen around the vicinity must be killed. Leader of the Fulani Ilorin said that his members had over three million cattle across the 16 council areas of the state, saying restricting them would bring their businesses to a halt. Ahmadu promised that his people would join hands with the governor to bring the perpetrators of the nefarious act to book and to secure the state and prevent it from being attacked by killer herdsmen.
 “Ilorin Fulani herdsmen are not killers, we are responsible citizens. I have been in Ado Ekiti for 40 years. My people had property in different locations and are now living in palpable fear,” he said. Fayose had earlier said he cannot guarantee the level that the reprisal attacks can get to because as a governor adding that it is his responsibility to defend and protect the people. Fayose described activities of the Fulani Herdsmen as inimical to the revival of agriculture in the country.