Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Hilda Harrison, yesterday said her command could no longer fold its arms and allow the excesses of Fulani herdsmen to go unchecked. Harrison ordered that all herdsmen operating in the state should be registered for identification purposes. She warned that unregistered cattle rearers would not be allowed to operate in the state, saying the head of the Hausa/ Fulani community where such herdsmen foment trouble would be held responsible.

The police commissioner spoke at an interactive session with stakeholders in Akure, the state capital. Stakeholders at the meeting included local farmers, heads of Hausa/ Fulani communities across the state, traditional rulers and leaders of Miyyatti Allah. She said: “Farmers and cattle rearers have been living together in this state before now. We need to come together, especially now that the price of petroleum products has come down; also, we should go back to the farm.

“We cannot do without one another and we must realise we need each other to earn our daily bread. Therefore, let us make efforts to promote peace in the state. “We are going to register every Hausa/Fulani community in the state. The leaders must know the number of herdsmen in their various camps. They must be registered and have identity cards. Henceforth, the leaders will be held responsible for the activities of the herdsmen.

“Nobody can take law into his or her hand. It will catch up with you. We can never compromise law and order. Police cannot fold their arms and allow a breakdown of law and order.”

Harrison urged farmers in the state not to go on any reprisal attack whenever they have issues with the herdsmen, saying “two wrongs don’t make a right.”

Credit: NationalMirror