Tinubu to Herders: End Open Grazing, Surrender Illegal Weapons

President Bola Tinubu has called on herder associations across Nigeria to end the practice of open grazing and surrender all illegal weapons immediately.

The call forms part of the President ongoing reforms in the country’s national security architecture.

The President made the call on Wednesday in a nationwide address, where he outlined a multi pronged strategy to tackle the country’s security crisis.

In the address, President Tinubu identified the persistent clashes between herders and farmers as a critical threat to national peace. Hence, he positioned the newly created Federal Ministry of Livestock as the primary vehicle for resolving this decades-old conflict.

“Our administration created the Livestock Ministry to address the persistent clashes between herders and farmers. I call on all herder associations to take advantage of it, end open grazing and surrender illegal weapons,” the President stated.

The President endorsed ranching as the modern and sustainable future for livestock farming.

“Ranching is now the path forward for sustainable livestock farming and national harmony. The Federal Government, in collaboration with the states, will work with you to solve this problem, once and for all,” President Tinubu declared.

The directive on open grazing was a key part of a broader security announcement that included the recruitment of 50,000 new police officers, the use of NYSC camps as training depots, and the deployment of trained forest guards to flush out bandits and terrorists.

The President’s call to end open grazing is the most specific federal directive on the issue in years and is seen as a direct response to the violence that has plagued many states, often linked to disputes over land and grazing routes.

While commending the security agencies for recent successful rescue operations, President Tinubu warned those threatening the nation’s peace. “Those who want to test our resolve should never mistake our restraint for weakness. This administration has the courage and determination to keep the country safe and ensure our citizens live in peace.”