RANCHING IS IT

Every day now, we are waking up to hear that some innocent people or farmers are killed by the Cattle handlers or herdsmen.
Suddenly, they have taken over the killing spree from the boko Haram sect.
Then I ask, where were they before now? Why this sudden urge to maim, destroy and kill? They have been living with these people and in most cases, happily so why turn around to start killing these people who have provided food for their Cattle?

Before now, we used to see the Fulani Herdsmen going about with sticks and water bottles. But as you can see from the pictures above, these handlers are no more carrying sticks but guns and in most cases, AK43. These are the new faces or herdsmen that are roaming from the Northern part of Nigeria to the Southern part.

We know that so many factors are responsible for the increased movement of theses herdsmen to the South

The first one is the climate change which has resulted from global warming and desertification.Of course, the owners fearing for their flocks, pay these young men to take them to greener lands. So the  herdsmen had no option than to migrate southwards to find pastures for their animals, which now faced starvation in the North. But the issue is that  nomadic cattle rearing is becoming out of fashion.
In developed Countries, Ranches are built to cater for these cattle etc.

In Ranches, adequate food and care will be provided for the cattle. The livestock would be healthier, more productive, while the herdsmen too will be taken care of. This nomadic lifestyle is outdated.
We know climate change from global warming and desertification has affected the Northern region of this Country and the activities of the terrorist group, Boko Haram has made life difficult there.
We also know these herdsmen think they have no option than to migrate to the Southern region to find pastures for their animals which may die of starvation in the region.

These and many other reasons may force these herdsmen to head South but all the reasons could be addressed by creating grazing fields and Ranches in their area. The owners of these Cattle have money and can take care of their life-stock without inconveniencing others.
Israel has succeeded to turn deserts into oasis and i believe the rich owners of the Cattle can built Ranches too and create green belt on those ranches. Cattle rearing is a private business so why make others to suffer?

REASONS WHY RANCHING IS THE WAY OUT
 
-Nomadic cattle rearing had become obsolete.

-Human activities have increased.

-Infrastructural Development have taken over the bushes and forests

-Education is everyone"s RIGHT.

-Child Abuse is a Crime.

So I plead with our President, Muhammadu Buhari not to go ahead with the so called grazing routes because these herdsmen will still be moving from one area to the other destroying farmlands and killing farmers who dare to challenge them  or stop the destruction of their crops.

In Ajaokuta, Kogi State, many farmers have been killed because they tried stopping the rampaging cattle from destroying what they had planted. The same gory scenes are being witnessed daily in Benue, Enugu, Edo, Oyo etc
The President and his Federal Executive Council should encourage building of Ranches and ensure adequate food for the Cattle and the handlers are provided.
This will forestall unnecessary clashes, the livestock would be healthier, more productive, and peace will return once more to the areas where attacks are commonplace now.