#OpenGrazing: How Fulani Herdsmen Destroyed UNILORIN Multi-million Naira Research & Training Farms – Vice-Chancellor
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Sulyman Abdulkareem, has raised the alarm over the destruction of the institution’s multi-million naira research and training farms by herdsmen cattles.
PUNCH correspondent gathered on Monday that, following the development, the management of the institution held a security meeting with the leaders of 11 Fulani settlements located on the institution’s land.
The meeting was also attended by representatives of Federal law enforcement agencies comprising the Nigerian Police Force, the Department of State Security Services and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.
During the meeting, the vice-chancellor warned that the management of the university would no longer tolerate illegal grazing on its land.
He said, “We have a multi-million naira programme that is currently at stake now because they (herders) have gone to the extent of uprooting tubers of cassava for their cattle to feed on. We cannot conduct any research or training on the farm again because each time we get to a point where their cattle can feed on it… they go back there and destroy it.”
The VC said the purpose of the meeting was to decide on a specific deadline for the herdsmen and other illegal settlers to vacate the property.
Punch