The herdsmen

There were 485 grazing reserves in Nigeria in 1965, with 115 of them fully functional, while others were forest reserves.

One of the reserves was what has now become Nigeria’s federal capital of Abuja.

But today, many other  reserves have been swallowed by development projects, such as airports and schools and Abuja is a functioning capital of Nigeria with zero tolerance for wandering cattle.

The National Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Alhaji Kiruwa Zuru, gave this insight  in an interactive session with journalists  in Birni-Kebbi,  Kebbi state.

Zuru said that the Federal Polytechnic Birnin Kebbi, the state owned Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport located in Ambursa and the Federal Capital Territory FCT Abuja were all demarcated as grazing reserves initially.

“Meanwhile, no replacement has been provided since the take-over of these reserves for development,” Zuru said.

Zuru gathered the journalists to throw light on the lingering crisis between farmers and herdsmen in the country.

He said his association fully supports the Federal Government’s efforts to find a permanent solution.

He called on the Federal Government to hasten creation and demarcation of grazing reserves and cattle ranches to control the movement of the herdsmen seeking pasture for their livestock.

He also called for the establishment of a committee consisting of all tribes that would campaign on the importance of unity and peaceful coexistence.