The operations of the Grazing Enforcement Marshalls, established to enforce the Ekiti State Government’s Anti-Grazing Law, have been suspended.
The Law prohibits herders from indiscriminate movement within the state with their animals at specified time.
Governor Ayodele Fayose suspended their operations on Tuesday after issues were raised by the herders’ association, claiming that some of the animals were killed by the officials.
He said they will only stay suspended for some days.
At a meeting with representatives of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in Ado-Ekiti, Governor Fayose expressed happiness that the leaders of the association decided to contact the state government instead of listening to rumours being peddled around by the opposition.
He denied claims that the marshals appointed to enforce the anti-grazing law were shooting cows.
“The marshals are not armed. There is total misinformation about killing of cows, shooting of cows. It is pure political and misinformation.
“So, when we leave here, I am going to go show them their cows, where they are kept and because of the accord and their understanding after the Thursday meeting I will release the cows to them for them to know that we are not extremists.
“All I want is people obeying our laws and collaborating together in the overall interest of our state.
“They have assured me that they are ready to cooperate, they have accepted the marshals. They only want to be part of the marshals so that they can equally enforce these laws with us because they know their people very well and they assured me that nobody among the herdsmen will go and use their cattle to feed on the farmlands and attack any of the citizens,” he told reporters after the meeting.
“They have demanded that I should allow them three days for them to move some of these cattle to permanent areas where they will be grazing. So, I have suspended the activities of the marshals for the next five days,” he added. (Channelstv)