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THE WEEKEND
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THE need to create cattle ranches for Fulani cattle rearers cannot be overemphasized as these nomadic people and animals are posing serious health hazards and danger to indigenes of their host communities. About a couple of weeks back, two brothers met their waterloo along Sapele Road due to a mad cow who ran into their motorbike. Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS) television footage showed the cow that caused the accident and the bereaved family. In a bid to seek greener pastures for grazing, their animals are moved from the nook and crannies across Benin metropolis and beyond. Consequently, in this endless migration, the animals defecates in all their foot path. Researchers have proved that animals waste, contain similar bacterial as human waste. So, indiscriminate dumping of cattle waste by the river banks could mean portable water supply could fast track bacterial mobility. About 80% of Nigerian population today is without safe dependable water and the consequences are enormous. No fewer than a thousand people are killed annually through water related diseases, such as Bilharzias which afflict so many people. infiltrates the world biggest cause of blindness that affects so many people in the northern part of Nigeria. Dysentery, cholera and typhoid continue to de-
SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2013
Need To Create Cattle Ranches For Fulani Rearers stroy human lives, occasioned by contaminated water. It had been confirmed by the United Nations in a survey carried out in many developing countries that about 95% of all infant mortality could be avoided through safe water utility and a good hygiene of refuse disposal. About 90% of the people in the rural communities across the country are daily consuming water. The house hold, animal wastes and pit toilets of over 100 million rural dwellers abide in their backyard. The UNEP report states that three quarter of world population is constantly exposed to diverse disease as a result of contaminated water. “At Orogho village in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State, the incessant burning of forest by cattle rearers is turning some part of the land to look like a semi-desert said Dr. Umweni, a Geologist at Ambrose Alli University (AAU) Ekpoma. These Nomadic Fulani cattle rearers will soon be laying claim to the ownership of the land just like their Ijaw counterpart at Gelege and other coastal areas in Bight of Benin. Mr. Oarugue a farmer who hail from the area said, “apart from the in-
By EKAIWE IGINUA OSEMWENKHA
cessant burning of our forest by these nomadic cattle rears, so many cases abound where our women going about their legitimate farm
meat could have become a culinary delight of the down trodden masses in Nigeria if they were privileged to lay hands on such
work have been sexually molested by Fulani cattle rearers and very often go free with out arrest on certain occasions the youths have to mobilize a hot chase, but the problems had remain a recurrent activities in the neighbourhood. In the U.K. about a decade ago, millions of cattle were destroyed for what vetinary doctors referred to as mad cow disease. The animals were buried because they were not fit for human consumption. But this type of
meat. “Diseases no de kill African man” This is very correct because without accurate diagnostic equine for an autopsy for the demised we tend to attribute death of this nature to the handiwork of a warlock. It is a common scenario in the rustic community to find farms that have been invaded by Fulani cattle rearers and the resultant consequences is destruction of crops and economic trees. The law abiding, hard working farmers remain the looser because there is no way of seeking redress by bringing these animals to book. Motorist on our high ways are vulnerable to mad cow who simply jump on the vehicle cruising at about 120 M.P.H. and before the driver knows what is happening there is a fa-
“Motorist on our high ways are vulnerable to mad cow who simply jump on the vehicle cruising at about 120 M.P.H. and before the driver knows what is happening there is a fatal accident thereby causing several vehicles to run into one another.”
tal accident thereby causing several vehicles to run into one another. A particular scenario that is still very fresh in
my memory was when three cows ran into a moving petrol tanker lorry at Benin – Ekpoma Road in Benin metropolis. The three cows were annihilated on the spot by the moving trailer but the petrol tanker somersaulted and busted into flames. So many vehicles plying the road lost their lives in the inferno. Cruelty to animals by some cattle traders from the northern part of the country who transports these animals on big lorries for two or three days without food or water, is totally unacceptable to people who are animal lovers. So, by the time they arrived Benin, Lagos or Calabar, they would need to graze for at least three days before gaining strength. Very often some of the animals do not recover and die before getting to
their destination. Mr. Ogieriakhi who had wanted to join the cattle business from Benin said “I suffered two major obstacles, first there is a monopoly
by the owners of these animals who do not welcome the idea of intermediaries, secondly, the risk of transporting animals without water or food for three days is very high. However I was able to purchase 10 cattle from the black market and three died on the way I could not afford to throw the dead cow away because of the huge capital employed, so the animals were slaughtered and dried with the heat of the sun. This type of meat is called tiko culinary delight of the downtrodden. In the light of the above, it had become imperative for the three tier of government to put in place cattle ranches in all the local government areas in Nigeria in order to curb the challenges occasioned by nomadic cattle rearers.