Fulani group seeks restoration of cattle routes

The Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) has called on the federal government and governors of the 19 Northern States to reclaim all encroached and blocked cattle routes in the country.

Addressing newsmen in Gombe, the National President of the association, Khalil Mohammed Bello, said the revival of the routes would stop the unnecessary movement of herders from north to south.

He said the movement in search of animal feed and water points by herders contributed to the painful and avoidable clashes between herders and farmers in the country.

“KACRAN regretfully observed that the major problem with Nigeria is the total abuse of our judicial processes and nonimplementation of laws as a result of which farmers are yearly encroaching and totally blocking gazetted grazing reserves and cattle routes,” he said.

According to him, the blockage is the major cause of most conflicts disturbing the peace and corporate existence of united Nigeria.

The KACRAN leader also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to holistically review his government’s agricultural policy, which he alleged is mainly tilted towards favouring arable farming, “to the detriment of livestock and fisheries sector.”

Khalil Bello further called on the federal government to establish the Federal Ministry of Animal and Fisheries, “which will pay more attention to the development of livestock sector providing Nigeria with nutritional food.