Influential nightlife entrepreneur and social media figure Cubana Chief Priest has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently ban open grazing nationwide, following the recent mass killings in Benue State.
The businessman, known for his outspoken presence on social media, posted a passionate appeal on Instagram, reacting to the latest round of violence that left over 200 people dead in Yelwata and surrounding communities in Benue.
“Enough is enough. End open grazing now!!! Too many innocent people are dying. This is not normal,” he wrote.
Cubana Chief Priest, whose real name is Pascal Okechukwu, is the latest high-profile Nigerian to wade into the national debate around open grazing, a practice many blame for escalating clashes between herders and farming communities across the Middle Belt and southern Nigeria.
His comments come amid widespread national outrage and grief over the Benue attacks, which have sparked renewed calls for the federal government to take a firmer stance on land use, rural security, and the unregulated movement of cattle.
“People should be able to sleep with both eyes closed. Families are being wiped out because we are too afraid to make tough decisions,” Chief Priest added in a follow-up post.
The businessman also tagged the President’s official Instagram handle and shared a clip of mass burials in Benue, a move that amplified his message to millions of followers.
Open grazing has remained a deeply divisive issue in Nigerian politics. While southern governors and several Middle Belt states have enacted anti-grazing laws, enforcement remains patchy. Critics argue that federal silence or even subtle endorsement has emboldened rogue herders, many of whom are heavily armed and operate with impunity.
Successive administrations have floated various solutions, including ranching and grazing reserves, but implementation has been slow due to land ownership disputes, ethnic sensitivities, and lack of political will.
President Tinubu has yet to make a definitive policy announcement on open grazing since taking office, but public pressure is mounting.
Cubana Chief Priest’s post quickly went viral, drawing praise from Nigerians who said it was refreshing to see a celebrity use their platform to speak on matters of life and death.
“Forget bottles and parties, this is real advocacy,” one commenter wrote.
“It shouldn’t take an influencer to say what the government should already be doing,” another user added.
Civil society organizations and community leaders in Benue have echoed similar sentiments, urging the federal government to treat the open grazing issue as a national emergency.
While the Presidency has not responded directly to the celebrity’s appeal, sources say the administration is currently reviewing national security strategies in response to recent violence in Benue, Plateau, and Niger states.
As Nigerians continue to mourn the lives lost, voices like Cubana Chief Priest’s reflect growing frustration with government inaction and a citizenry that is demanding protection, policy, and peace.
