The Ekiti State government has ordered the immediate arrest and prosecution of herdsmen carrying guns and other dangerous weapons in the state.

The deputy governor, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, disclosed this on Thursdayat a peace meeting held with representatives of herders and farmers atthe Government House in Ado-Ekiti in the wake of recent allegedattacks on farmers in some communities by suspected herdsmen.

According to a government statement, the government has also declared that “the full weight of the law will be visited on any herdsman caught with dangerous weapons.”

A statement signed by the Special Assistant (Media) to the DeputyGovernor, Odunayo Ogunmola, revealed that the meeting was attended byrepresentatives of Fulani, Hausa, Ebira, Urhobo, Yoruba communities,Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders and Ekiti Grazing and EnforcementMarshals (EGEM).

Egbeyemi warned that it was unacceptable to the state government forherdsmen to be carrying AK-47 rifles and other dangerous weaponsstressing that security agencies have been mobilized to arrest anyoneof them caught with weapons.

The deputy governor particularly warned the Sarkin Fulani in EkitiState, Muhammad Abashe, that he would be held responsible should therebe any further attacks on farmers on their farm lands.

Egbeyemi said the state government would not tolerate a repeat ofattack on Orin Farm Settlement in Ido/Osi Local Government Area lastyear in which a pregnant Tiv farmer was killed.

According to him, government was duty bound to protect law-abidingresidents including settlers in the state who are engaged inlegitimate businesses and would not allow killing of innocent people.

He stressed that herdsmen are not allowed to graze their cattle onfarm lands noting that such had led to massive loss of gains andaffecting yield of farmers.

•Excerpted from a Tribune report