…Give govt two-week ultimatum to address concerns over anti-open grazing laws
Cattle breeders in Oyo State have threatened to halt milk, cow, goat, and ram sales in the state within two weeks unless the State Government through its Ministry of Agriculture, grants them the opportunity to lease lands to grow their cattle and prevent open grazing.
They alleged indiscriminate areest of their cows and its tenders by officials of the Rule of Law, regretting that as at July this year over 40 Fulanis tendering animals were sent to Agodi Prisons with Cow owners paying millions as fines to secure their release on weekly basis.
The ultimatum to shut down cow markets, according to them, took effect from Tuesday August 12, 2025 till August 26, 2025.
The ultimatum followed the implementation of the Anti-Open Rearing and Grazing Prohibition Laws of Oyo State (2019) by the state government now known as the Oyo State Rule of Law and Enforcement Authority (OYRLEA).
At a media parley held in Akinyele, Ibadan, on Tuesday, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Fulani, the Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria (GAFDAN) led by Alh. Yusuf Haruna; the National Association of Cattle Dealers Processor and Marketers of Nigeria and other socio-cultural associations in the cattle business value chain in the state announced two-week ultimatum.
They wanted the government to address their grievances, failing which they would embark on the indefinite strike. Speakers at the parley complained that the cattle that were not grazed in the open places were being arrested by taskforce.
The MACBAN Chairman in the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Jiji and Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria (GAFDAN) under Alh. Yusuf Haruna expressed frustration over the implementation of the Anti-Open Rearing and Grazing Prohibition Laws of Oyo State (2019).
Both Alhaji Ibrahim Jaji and Alhaji Yusuf Haruna appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde to have mercy on Fulani cattle breeders, citing many years of peaceful coexistence and contributions to state security and economy.
They listed the grievances and concerns of the cattle breeders to include enforcement of the Anti-Open Rearing Grazing Prohibition Law of the state, which he described as harsh, with cattle being seized in their enclaved settlements, heavy fines imposed, and prosecution of their owners in court.
Jiji sated that cattle breeders felt they were not consulted before the law’s implementation began.
Yusuf Haruna added that it has been difficult for cattle breeders to buy land in the state for their business for ranching because indigenes have not be selling land to them.
They emphasised that ranching alternatives are needed to support cattle breeders.
Jiji specifically said all the Fulani in the state have agreed that if the government fails to meet their demands by having a meeting with them within two weeks, effective from Tuesday, they would halt the milk, cow, goat, and ram sales in the state, as well as shut down butcheries and intermediary businesses, and also close all cattle markets in the state until further notice.
The South West Woman Leader of MACBAN, Hajia Aminat Idris, who appealed to the government to have mercies on the cattle breeders, said: “If there’s no peace for us cattle breeders, there’s no peace for those in the value chain.”
The South West Leader, National Association of Cattle Dealers Processor and Marketers of Nigeria, Olagoke Lateef Apata, also stated: “We’re not against the law, but the enforcers are doing beyond what the law says.”
Chairman, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Fulani, Alhaji Sanni Mohammed, also appealed to the government to end their suffering.
“I appeal to the governor to have mercy on us… This is where we get money to feed and train our children. We don’t know any other business we can do. The government should look for a way to accommodate us in th scheme of things,” he said.
