- Uzo-Uwani local government area has been embroiled in incessant herdsmen attacks for some years now.
- LG council boss, Fulani herdsmen in strategic security meeting to find lasting solution to herder/farmers attack in the area
- Farmers narrate ordeal, appeal to the council boss, others to implement deliberations
After almost decade of incessant herdsmen attack, the Uzo-Uwani local council boss, Barr. Chijoke Ezugwu, Security Chiefs, Fulani community and indeed other stakeholders were huddled into strategic security meeting following alleged take over of Adani, Iggah, Ukpata and communities by the heavily armed Fulani herdsmen.
The council boss during open remarks said that the local government area under his watch will not relent in its efforts to flush out criminal elements wrecking havoc in the area, assuring that security has been beefed up to ensure the safety of lives and property in the council.
This was even as the council boss lamented the incessant destructions of farmlands in different parts of the council, mandating the Fulani herdsmen to immediately commence ranching technique or leave the entire council, as their activities are not only causing pains to the farmers but also against the food security which the Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah has been advocating.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that the meeting which was held on Thursday, February 27 at Adani Divisional Police Station was as a result of alleged huge encroachment of council land by armed herdsmen and destruction of farm lands by the herdsmen.
Speaking during the meeting, Ezugwu recalled that the Enugu State Government has signed a law prohibiting the practice of open grazing, insisting that the old method of cattle rearing as being unlawful shall henceforth be banned in the local council, while ordering that the victims of the herdsmen destruction shall be compensated by the cattle owners.
The chairman noted that the local government remains undeterred in its fight against insecurity, stressing that agriculture remains the main means of livelihood for his people and must be prioritized.
“The state government under the administration of Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah has been expending concerted efforts targeted at empowering the farmers in Enugu to ensure food security. The state governor had earlier signed the anti-grazing bill into law, and as a result of this, the council will be implementing the law in Uzo-Uwani to avoid farmers-herders clash.
“We have received litany of compliants regarding the destruction of hectares of farmlands. The most recent ones were the destructions of about four hectares of cassava farmland owned by one Mr. Mike Ebuka, two hectares of cassava farm owned byChidiebere Ogbobe and Equally the rice farms owned by others. Let it be on record that we have noted these things with displeasure and we are not going to keep quiet over it. Our people can’t continue to suffer and die of starvation because their means of livelihoods are being deprived from them. It is either you
Meanwhile, a farmer who simply identified himself as Mr Okoro, while speaking on behalf of other farmers thanked the executive chairman for his timely intervention, stating that this meeting has restored hope to the farmers.
Mr Okoro equally lamented how his cassava farm worth millions of naira was levelled overnight by the Fulani marauders, lamenting what the farmers in Uzo-Uwani has been passing through.
According to him, the brazen destruction of farmlands in Uzo-Uwani has given rise to the high cost of foods in the council area which prides itself as the food basket of the state. He therefore, appealed to both state and local government to ensure that the open – grazing practices become a thing of the past.
“Before I was hopeless, especially as the farming season is gradually approaching, but today I have given a sigh of relief by this meeting and the order that the government has made. All we, the farmers are asking for is to ensure the speedy implementation of this anti-grazing law which the governor, Dr Peter Mbah has signed into law. We can’t continue to have our women being raped, kidnaped at the farm and our farms being overtly destroyed. We thank the government and we hope that this implementation starts as soon as possible,” he said.
