Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State says the state government is determined to implement the RUGA project, meant to resettle herders and boost economic activities. Ganduje stated this on Saturday in Kano while receiving the report on the establishment of Ruga and Milk Market in Kano State.

Oyo State government has charged the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association to work towards having a register of true members of the body in the state to avert future clashes between herders and farmers.

The protest in Gongoshi village of Mayo-Belwa council area of Adamawa notwithstanding, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday inaugurated the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) in the state.

Abiodun Fadeyi, Deputy Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, spoke with FEMI IBIROGBA, Head, Agro-Economy Desk, on how activities of herders have posed threats to communities and the imperative of forestalling further crises with preventive and proactive legislation in the face of the recent controversial RUGA scheme as well as the need for private sector-led ranch establishment and management.

Professor Ango Abdullahi has charged the Federal Government to be more sensitive to the yearnings of Fulani herders in the country, giving them attention like other farmers who enjoy subsidy for their businesses.

The Eastern Consultative Assembly (ECA) yesterday came down heavily on the Federal Government over the spate of killings and general insecurity in the country, saying it is either overwhelmed or complicit.

When the Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun said sometimes ago that the state was planning to have a world-class cattle ranch and an abattoir, what erupted from the good gesture was the noise of “RUGA”, to my disbelieve, the governor had a good intention, not the type of ranch where herdsmen will have a field day to trample on our farms.

The Yoruba Youth Socio-cultural Association (YYSA) Worldwide has described the step taken in the South East by the northern leaders, Livestock and Perishable Goods Market Traders and Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association to ban herdsmen who do not have families in the region from grazing as commendable.

It is so unfortunate that insecurity is still waxing strong in our polity despite all efforts of the government to bring the menace under control. Day in day out, people are being slaughtered like chickens and there is palpable fear in the heart of the masses.

Nigeria is a nation of unending drama. Drama is what keeps us going as a people. Insecurity, unemployment, corruption, decayed infrastructure, ethnicity, tribalism are some of our recurring challenges. But we have learned to live with them. Drama gives us a huge comic relief from our many troubles.

Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue on Saturday in New York said no fewer than 81 herders had been convicted and 3,000 cows arrested under the state’s anti-open grazing law.

The leaders of Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, yesterday ordered killer Fulani herdsmen to vacate the southwest or face consequences. The group disclosed at a press briefing in Lagos that failure by the herdsmen to heed the advice could result in a confrontation with the Yoruba people.