The Ekiti State government has ordered herdsmen and farmers residing in the state to register with the government or leave the state.
This is a replica of what the Ondo State government did that drew criticism of Nigerians, particularly those in Northern Nigeria.
Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of the state, came under fire for asking herdsmen residing in forests reserves across the state to identify with the government or vamose.
In Ekiti, both farmers and herders have a two-week grace beginning from March 22nd, 2021, to either register or leave the territory, according to a statement by Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Olabode Adetoyi.
Mr Adetoyi who said the exercise is in consonance with the National Livestock Transformation Programme of the Federal Government, said this became necessary to ensure that all farmers and herders could be accounted for and to bring an end to incessant clashes between them which he said posed dangers to human and food security.
Special Adviser to Governor Kayode Fayemi on security matters and chairman, herders-farmers peace committee, retired Brig.-Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, warned in the statement that whoever failed to register would be treated as a criminal and would be forced to leave the state.
