The Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide and Afenifere, the Yoruba socio-political organization, have criticized comments made by the umbrella body of Northern cattle rearers.
The umbrella body for northern cattle rearers, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, recently issued a statement saying that no one can stop them from grazing their cattle in the southern part of Nigeria as it was their constitutional right.
Punch reports that the Secretary-General of Afenifere, Chief Sehinde Arogbofa, said “That cannot be the solution to the problem; it would rather aggravate it. Some people are domiciled in the South and if there is an element of inconvenience from the people living with them, it should be resolved in a peaceful atmosphere so that nobody is taken for granted.
“I don’t believe a serious person can say that.”
Mr. Eric Omare, spokesman of the IYCW also said the Fulani herdsmen situation might lead to a breakdown of law and order if not checked.
Omare said “The insistence by Fulani herdsmen to continue their cattle grazing in the South despite reservation expressed by southerners is an invitation to anarchy.
“They cannot rely on the freedom of movement to be killing people outside Fulani land. The IYC thinks that the President and the northern political leaders’ support that the herdsmen enjoy is responsible for their arrogant insistence to continue to graze cattle in the South.”