Worried by the increasing cases of Fulani herdsmen attacks that have left a trail of blood across the nation, a Catholic cleric has offered a solution to the Federal Government.
In a chat with newsmen in Awka, Anambra State on Sunday, the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, said ranching remains the only viable solution to the menace.
He said if properly implemented, ranching can help avert bloody clashes between herdsmen and farmers in Nigeria.
Ezeokafor while fielding questions from journalists at the Blessed Iwene Tansi’s Catholic Parish, Ebenebe, in Awka North Council area of Anambra State, said Nigeria should adopt modern cattle-rearing methods that have become the norm all over the world.
He said, “With population explosion and people maintaining improved method of living and feeding, meat has become a lucrative business.
“Developed countries such as Ireland, Israel and Korea that have small landmass, adopted ranching in their meat supply, and with that improved method, cattle were confined in enclosures.
“In this way, they are able to make their cattle yield quality and quantity meat and milk.”
He said that despite being a small nation, Israel boasts excess of meat supply to service its booming tourism industry all year round, urging Nigeria to emulate the Middle Eastern nation.
Furthermore, he urged the governors of South Eastern states to expose Igbo youth to mechanised system of rearing cattle by ranching, noting that it would help to restrict Fulani cattle herders’ encroachment into community farmlands.
The cleric said, “Igbo Youths should get engaged in it as business enterprise.
“When herdsmen revolutionise animal husbandry with modern method of feeding the cattle with improved animal feeds in ranches, and eventually make better breeds with less primitive rigours of roaming about in the forest and farm lands, the Hausa/Fulani herdsmen would be motivated to do same.”