Development Agenda for Western Nigeria has urged the South-West governors to equip operatives of the Western Nigeria Security Network, popularly called Amotekun, with sophisticated arms to stop kidnapping and enforce the anti-open grazing law in their states.
Director-General of DAWN, Mr Seye Oyeleye, who stated this on Monday while speaking to journalists in Ibadan, Oyo State, stressed that it was wrong to deny Amotekun operatives modern arms, while kidnappers who they were expected to fight, carried AK-47 rifles and other very sophisticated weapons.
He expressed regret that while Amotekun, which establishment was backed by law, was denied arms, non-state actors were carrying sophisticated weapons everywhere.
“Amotekun must be allowed to carry proper weapons. Our governors must go back to engage the Federal Government that Amotekun must be allowed to carry sophisticated weapons,” Oyeleye said.
The DAWN boss added that banning open grazing would enhance the security in the forests in the South-West region and would also increase investments coming in because many would invest in ranching.
He said the governors should use the police and Amotekun to enforce the law, saying they should not sit back and expect herders to comply with the law.
He also urged the Federal Government to do everything to mop up illegal arms and ammunition in circulation in the country.
Oyeleye further commended the Ikun Dairy Farm in Ekiti State, saying that was an example of how cattle business should be done.
He added that South-West governors did not need to create ranches but should ensure that enabling environment was created to encourage investments.
He said since animal rearing is a business, herders should embrace ranching which is the modern method of animal husbandry.
According to him, ranching is less stressful to the animals and the humans tending them, saying it’s even much more profitable.
Oyeleye said while a cow subjected to trekking all over the country would produce one litre of milk per day here in Nigeria, a cow being fed in a ranch in Europe would give 42 litres of milk per day.
The DAWN DG said open grazing of cows, which had been described as the culture of some people, was harmful to agriculture, which, according to him, is the way of life of the Yoruba people.
The DAWN director-general said farmers in Yoruba land had been subjected to all manners of wicked acts from some criminals masquerading as herdsmen, saying influx of foreigners into the country through its porous borders must be checked.
He said, “Our governors should use the police and Amotekun to enforce the ban on open grazing. You can’t make law and go to bed expecting that it would be complied with. Former Governor Ayo Fayose enforced the law when he was there.
“Our governors are serious but to be seen as serious, they must enforce the anti-open grazing law.
“Open grazing has been banned by states in the South-West and we at the DAWN Commission believe this is the first step towards ensuring security in our forests.
“Everybody must comply, we don’t want open grazing. If it is the way of life of some people to graze cows, that way of life is harmful to our own way of life which is agriculture and it must stop.”
Oyeleye commended the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, for his position on open grazing.
He said Ganduje had spoken against it and had offered land to whoever would engage in cattle ranching. He added that that was the way to go.
Oyeleye, who also said restructuring would address some of the major problems facing the country, explained that those advocating restructuring were not saying that the country should be broken.
He said there must be equity if the various components which made up Nigeria were to live together in peace.
According to him, there will be no peace and development in a country where many citizens think a particular ethnic group is being protected against others no matter the crimes it commits.