Fulani Herdsmen Challenge Wike’s Warning, Graze Cows Near Aso Villa
Despite the recent admonition from FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to Fulani herdsmen to refrain from grazing cattle within the city center, a group of herders defied the directive and were spotted grazing their cows in the heart of the city.
Nyesom Wike, who assumed office as FCT Minister just last week, had emphatically stated that grazing inside the city would not be permitted and that such activities should occur outside the city limits.
“We cannot allow cows inside the city. It can be outside the city. That is the way it should be done,” said Wike, explaining that the grasses meant for cattle were planted outside the city to beautify the urban landscape. He added that the grasses within the city were designated for decorative purposes.
In a surprising twist, images and a video captured on Sunday showed a herd of cattle grazing openly near the Goodluck Jonathan Expressway, close to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Christian Ecumenical Centre in Abuja.
The incident occurred around 1:52 p.m. and revealed the cattle grazing just meters away from the Aso Presidential Villa, situated near the CBN on Plot 33, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Way, Central Business District.
While Nyesom Wike’s warning against city-center grazing received widespread support, the presence of cattle on the streets of Abuja indicates that Fulani herders may not be complying with his directive. This development reflects a continuation of the practice that had taken place over the past eight years during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure, despite previous condemnation.
Under Buhari’s administration, herders openly grazed their cattle from districts like Jabi to key locations such as Asokoro, Maitama, and the Central Business District, which houses the State House, National Assembly, and Supreme Court.