Ayodele Fayose, Governor of Ekiti State, says herdsmen in the state must register with the sum of N5,000 in their host communities to make for easy identification.
Fayose made this known via his Twitter handle while sympathising with Olu Falae, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, whose farm was allegedly set ablaze by herdsmen. The attack on Sunday allegedly affected hectares of land where Falae planted palm trees, yams and cassava.
Also, a bill will be sent to the Ekiti State House of Assembly seeking a five-year prison sentence for anyone found guilty of protecting or harbouring “killer-herdsmen”.
Fayose also said that the head of the Fulani community in Ekiti State will be held personally responsible for further attacks in his domain.
“Henceforth, to operate in Ekiti State, herdsmen must have to register with N5,000 in host communities. We must know the identity of all herdsmen operating in Ekiti and who should be held responsible in the event of any further attacks in the state,” Fayose twitted.
“Also, the Sarkin Fulani (Head of Fulanis) in Ekiti State, Muhammad Abashe, will be held personally responsible for any further attacks in his domain.
“Besides, I will forward an executive bill to the House of Assembly proposing a five-year jail term for anybody found guilty of harbouring ‘killer’ herdsmen in the state.”
Henceforth, to operate in Ekiti State, herdsmen must have to register with N5,000 in host communities. We must know the identity of all herdsmen operating in Ekiti and who should be held responsible in the event of any further attacks in the state.
— Peter Ayodele Fayose (@GovAyoFayose) January 21, 2018
Also, the Sarkin Fulani (Head of Fulanis) in Ekiti State, Muhammad Abashe, will be held personally responsible for any further attacks in his domain.
— Peter Ayodele Fayose (@GovAyoFayose) January 21, 2018
Besides, I will forward an executive bill to the House of Assembly proposing a five-year jail term for anybody found guilty of harbouring ‘killer’ herdsmen in the state.
— Peter Ayodele Fayose (@GovAyoFayose) January 21, 2018
Fayose expressed regrets that an elder statesman lika Falae, who should be enjoying his retirement but has chosen to continue active life as a farmer, is still made to undergo hard times at the hands of herdsmen.
“I sympathize with one of our leaders in Yorubaland, Chief Olu Falae on the reported burning of his farm by suspected herdsmen. I am worried about the incessant attacks on Chief Falae by herdsmen and government should act decisively to curb the menace,” he wrote.
“If Chief Falae is still farming at his age, what he needs from govt and Nigerians is support, not destruction of his crops by herdsmen. Methinks government at all levels should protect Nigerians, especially our elders statesmen from criminal elements like the herdsmen.”
If Chief Falae is still farming at his age, what he needs from govt and Nigerians is support, not destruction of his crops by herdsmen. Methinks govt at all levels should protect Nigerians, especially our elders statesmen from criminal elements like the herdsmen.
— Peter Ayodele Fayose (@GovAyoFayose) January 21, 2018
Sunday’s attack was not the first of Falae’s encounters with herdsmen. In September 2015, he was kidnapped from his farm assailants believed to be acting on information supplied by herdsmen.
Two of the kidnappers were arrested and paraded by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and one of them, named Usman, confessed to the crime.
“I then told him that I know one man who used to bring a Hilux vehicle to his farm and I used to see him as I move my cows about,” Usman narrated to journalists as he was being paraded in October 2017.
Five more of the kidnappers were later arrested and all seven were charged to court, with Falae himself one of the witnesses during the trial.
In April 2017, all seven suspects were sentenced to life imprisonment.