According to Punch News, Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has threatened sanctions for herders grazing cattle beyond designated zones. Oyebanji emphasized the state's responsibility to protect crop farmers from cattle damage to achieve food sufficiency and security.
Addressing traditional rulers on Friday during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the federal and Ekiti State governments for upgrading the State Specialists Hospital, Ikole to a Federal Medical Centre, Oyebanji stated, "It will not be good for our people to farm and at the point of reaping, that some people will bring cattle to graze."
The governor publicly sent a message to cattle rearers through traditional rulers, warning that the state would pursue violators. "We will provide a grazing area for them and they should stay where we allocate. I have given officials two weeks to designate a place for them, and any cattle rearers who leave the designated area will face consequences," Oyebanji said.
Oyebanji also urged traditional rulers to prioritize security, reminding them of the recent killings of two monarchs by bandits in the local government area. "We must not allow that to happen again. It seems we have forgotten and are relaxing. So I am challenging our royal fathers today; we can address this together because some of these herders are close to you," he added.