The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), has kicked against the proposed grazing reserves for Fulani herdsmen across the country.
The church, on Friday in Abuja, asked the Federal Government to scrap the proposed grazing reserves for Fulani herdsmen, noting that it would lead to a civil war eventually not to mention that it gives the herdsmen “unwarranted special preference.”
The Primate of Anglican Church, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, said this during his presidential address delivered to the third session of the 9th synod with the theme: “The poverty of riches”.
The Primate pointed out that the unpleasant activities of the Fulani herdsmen would make them automatic indigenes of all the regions of the country should the government continue with its plan.
He said, “The synod hereby states unequivocally that the move to create grazing reserves for Fulani herdsmen around the country does not have our support. This is because the move treats a set of people with unwarranted special preference, making them indigenes of all regions of the country.
“There have been countless isolated cases of herdsmen brutality to their host communities. These notorious activities of herdsmen are capable of dragging the country into another civil war. The Fulani herdsmen are private businessmen who take away all proceeds of the business, not sharing with either their host communities or the government.
“We wish to re-echo to the Federal Government, states and individuals involved, the recommendation already made earlier, that ranches should be built in their own localities for modern animal husbandry. In some parts of Nigeria, people are already grappling with high population growth and land does not expand. Nobody’s land should therefore be given forcefully given to anybody in any guise.
“The synod calls on the National Assembly to drop the bill on grazing reserves as it is only heating up the polity and will do no good to the herdsmen, their host communities or the government.”
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