Fayose flays FG’s silence on alleged plan by herdsmen to invade Ekiti

Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has accused the Federal Government of not taking action on the alleged plan by herdsmen to attack border towns in the state over the arrest of some of their cattle by the state government.

He advised residents of the state to be prepared to defend themselves against attacks from the herdsmen.

The governor told newsmen yesterday that the five cattle seized by the Ekiti Grazing Enforcement Marshall (EGEM) were already in the custody of the Ministry of Agriculture. He added that they would not be released until their owners pay the appropriate fines as stipulated by the anti-grazing law of the state.

Fayose also condemned the Federal Government for not responding to the threat by Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), the umbrella body of herdsmen in Nigeria, to wage war against the government and people of Ekiti State because of their seized cattle.

According to him: “Four days after this threat was issued by Miyetti Allah, the Federal Government is yet to take any action on the issue. This silence by the Federal Government has confirmed the claim that there is a plot to support the plan by the herdsmen to invade some border towns and villages and cause chaos so as to perfect the agenda to declare a state of emergency in the state.

He added: “It is strange that Miyetti Allah did not respond when its members killed two people and injured several others at Oke Ako in Ekiti. This is the same association that defended the killing of over 1,000 Agatu people in Benue and also kept silent when herdsmen murdered over 100 people in Enugu State.