Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was absent as Southwest leaders met in Ibadan on Saturday to insist on the ban on open grazing.

Mr. Sanwo-Olu, who had long declined comments on security challenges rocking the region, had stirred concerns when he refused to establish the South-west Security Network ‘Amotekun’ in Lagos.

The meeting comes in the heat of the incessant killing and kidnapping activities tied to the activities of the Fulani herdsmen in the region.

Speaking after the meeting on Saturday, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, chairman of Southwest governors, asked the government at various levels to device means of putting an end to open grazing.

“We discussed that as we are supporting other areas of farming, like rice farmers and others, the need for government to support cattle breeding is now. And one of the ways we can support cattle breeding is to change the ways and means that cattle breeders are adopting now,” Mr. Akeredou said.

“So, you can find designated grazing areas where you can graze, you can have feed mills where you can feed, you do not have to trek with your herds from far.

“But, things that will lead to open grazing in these modern times must be looked at and the state and federal government, in particular, should give support as much as we can to cattle breeders,” he added.

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Gboyega Oyetola of Osun and Seyi Makinde of Oyo were present at the meeting.

Also at the meeting were traditional rulers including the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi; Alaafin of Oyo, Lamidi Adeyemi; Olubadan of Ibadanland, Saliu Adetunji; Akarigbo of Remo, Babatunde Ajayi; the Olugbo of Ugboland, Fredrick Akinruntan, amongst others.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s chief of staff Ibrahim Gambari, Inspector-General Mohammed Adamu and SSS Director-General Yusuf Bichi were absent, even though they were also invited to be a part of the crucial meeting.

Their absence was a result of the bad weather which restricted them from boarding flight down to Ibadan from Abuja, they said in a joint statement.

But Oyo police Ngozi Onadeko and other security chiefs in the state were present. A spokesman for Mr. Sanwo-Olu did not return request seeking comments about the governor’s absence at the meeting.