. We’re not leaving state, we’ll register, says Miyetti Allah
Ondo State Security Network Agency, popularly called Amotekun, has arrested no fewer than 37 herdsmen and 5, 000 cows for violating the order of the state government to vacate forest reserves in the state.
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu had issued a four-point order, which included ejection of herdsmen from the forest reserves, ban on movement of cattle along the highways and within the cities, ban on night grazing and under-aged grazing.
It was, however, gathered that in spite of the order, the Amotekun corps arrested some herders grazing in the forests.
State Commander of the Amotekun, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, on Thursday, confirmed the arrest, saying his men were still in the forest reserves to flush out herders.
Adeleye said some of the herdsmen, who could not cope with conditions of the state government, had met with the corps and had opted to move out of the state peacefully.
He disclosed that the suspects were arrested in Ala, Oda and Ofosu forests of the state.
The Amotekun commander said, “Some of them have opted to leave the state because they couldn’t meet with our terms and conditions. They came through the Chairman of Miyetti Allah in the state. Some opted to go to Osun, Edo and Kogi states. So, our men escorted them to the boundaries of those states. We have to monitor their movements out of the state so that they would not destroy farms on their way out.
“About 37 herders have been arrested with about 5, 000 cows. The majority of the herders have been coming to us through their chairman and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Hausa Matters. We will hand over the culprits to the chairman to lead them out and anybody caught again after this, would be arrested and prosecuted.”
The Amotekun boss implored the farmers to always call on the corps whenever the cows invade and destroy their farms, saying the corps would respond immediately.
But Miyetti Allah said its members were not leaving the state.
The group was reacting to the statement by Adeleye that some of the herdsmen were opting out of the state when they could not meet up with terms and condition of the state.
MACBAN Chairman in Ondo State, Alhaji Garba Bello, said the association was only waiting to register with the state government.
“My members are not leaving the state. We obey the law, We are even waiting for the government to open the register. We want to register and we will go back to our work, so I am not aware that my members are leaving the state,” Bello said.