- Orders herdsmen to vacate Ondo forest reserves in 7 days
- Bans night grazing, movement of cattle in cities, on highways
- All herdsmen in the state must register with govt in 7 days
The meeting
By Banji Ayoola
Southwest Governors’ Forum Chairman and Ondo State Governor Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, on behalf of his five other counterparts, has drawn the red line between governments with the people of the region and all criminals terrorising the region under whatever guise.
He spoke on behalf of himself; Governors Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti; Gboyega Oyetola, Osun; Seyi Makinde, Oyo; Dapo Abiodun, Ogun and Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos.
Already, Amotekun Corps, a security initiative of the six governors, has taken off in almost all the six states.
Akeredolu warned that his administration would not fold its arms and allow a few individuals turn the State into a haven of dare-devil criminals.
Akeredolu who talked tough on the activities of the criminal elements in the state said security reports and debriefings from victims of kidnap cases pointed in one direction traceable to some bad elements masquerading as herdsmen.
He spoke during an interactive meeting with the leadership of the Hausa/Fulani and Ebira Communities in the state held at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Governor’s office, Alagabaka, Akure on Monday, January 18, 2021.
A statement by the Special Assistant to the Governor (New Media), Mr Olabode Olatunde, said the meeting was also attended by the Commissioner of Police, Mr Bolaji Salami and the state commandant of the Amotekun Corps, Mr Tunji Adeleye.
The governor decried the activities of the criminal elements, adding that they have turned forest reserves in the state and across the Southwest into hideouts for keeping victims of kidnapping, negotiating for ransom and carrying out other criminal activities.
His words: “As the Chief Law and Security Officer of the State, it is my constitutional obligation to do everything lawful to protect the lives and property of all residents of the State.
“This meeting, therefore, is convened to address the issues of insecurity with the ultimate aim of attaining the goal of a safe environment.
“Recent security trends attest that these times require all hands to be on the deck as the difficulties we face are dire. The challenges are quite enormous but we are determined to confront them head-on.
“We decided that all the criminal elements who hide under various guises to aid the destruction of farmlands as well as perpetrate other violent crimes such as kidnapping, drug peddling and other nefarious activities, must be stamped out of our dear State.
“I wish to reassure the residents that the State Security Council, under my leadership, shall not relent in tackling these challenges as pragmatically as possible. We shall remove all threats in no distant future.
“We have cases of several attacks on our people by these mindless elements. You will recall the gruesome murder of one of the members of the Ondo State Traditional Council who was caught in the web of the devious plans of these workers of evil on his way back to his domain.
“While we were still grieving, other kidnap attempts were made on the lives of road users across the State, especially along our boundaries and hinterland.”
He also ordered that all Forest Reserves in the State must be vacated by herdsmen within the next seven days with effect from today, Monday 18th January, 2021.
He further placed a ban on night-grazing and movement of cattle within cities and highways in the state, while also outlawing under-aged grazing of cattle.
His words: “In its usual magnanimity, our administration will give a grace period of seven days for those who wish to carry on with their cattle-rearing business to register with appropriate authorities.
“Our resolution to guarantee the safety of lives and property within the State shall remain utmost as security agencies have been directed to enforce the ban.”
