OBIANO ORDERS ANAMBRA CP TO PRODUCE DATA OF HERDSMEN IN THE STATE
Reporter : ONYINYE CHIJIOBI
As part of efforts to mitigate farmers’/herders’ clashes in Anambra State, Governor Willie Obiano has directed the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Monday kuriyas, to produce data of local herdsmen operating within the state.
Governor Obiano gave the directive during a meeting with Cattle Menace Committee held in Aguleri, Anambra East Council Area.
The meeting deliberated extensively on the issues of kidnapping, killings and general insecurity in the state.
it was agreed that the sum of twelve million naira owed farmers for damaged crops by the herders, about six million Naira owed herdsmen for cows killed, as well as three million naira compensation for dead persons are to be payed within one week.
According to Governor Willie Obiano, the meeting was to proffer lasting solution to farmers/ herders crisis in the state.
The Governor explained that the measure would help solve and strengthen the state’s security architecture, saying that itinerant herders and open grazing remained banned in the state.
He added that the local herdsmen, who are well known in the state, would be accommodated, as they were expected to help fish out the bad ones perpetrating crime in the area.
Governor Obiano noted that government would not tolerate any herders operating with AK 47, saying that the South-East Governors Forum had proscribed open grazing in the region.
Speaking during the meeting, President General of Attani community, Colonel Paul Izukanne (Retd.), faulted some herders for not considering efforts of local farmers.
The Zonal Chairman of Miyetti Allah in the South East and leader of Fullani in Anambra state, Alhaji Gidado Siddiki, while explaining that their national body had banned night grazing, promised training and retraining of those rearing cows to help bring lasting peace between farmers and herdsmen.
Mr. Siddiki lamented that most of the cases raised were not reported to them.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Monday kuriyas, said they had included police patrol in the area while the army had formed a base to ensure that kidnapping and other crimes were drastically reduced in the state.
Others, who spoke on the occasion, stressed the need for a functional task force that would stem the crisis.
Heads of Security agencies, traditional rulers, president generals, youth leaders, heads of farmers and herders in Anambra State attended the meeting.