Gov. Umahi Bans Grazing As Herdsmen, Farmers Clash In Ebonyi

Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has placed a ban on open grazing in Ivo Local Government Area of the State, following a brutal clash which occurred between farmers and herdsmen in Akaeze community, on Tuesday.

Naija News gathered that three herdsmen were left with head injuries while one farmer received machete cuts on his body.

It was learnt that the herdsmen from Mpu, Enugu state reportedly invaded farmlands in Akaeze and destroyed crops. Infuriated by the illicit invasion, one of the farmers confronted the herdsmen and he was attacked with a machete.

Governor Umahi therefore, summoned emergency security meeting with security chiefs in the state, leaders of herdsmen, local government chairmen and stakeholders of Ivo local government.

He directed that a 10-man committee be set up to investigate the matter .

Umahi said, “This issue is becoming complicated. I want the CP (commissioner of police), the Army and the SSS to set up a committee. It should be a 10-man committee to investigate the matter and we will convene another emergency security meeting on the matter.

“The investigation should commence immediately. But I am banning any herdsman from entering Ivo local government until this investigation is completed and I want the security men to carry out my instruction. No herdsman should enter the place, no cattle should enter Ivo local government again until investigation is completed.

“Security people, I want you people to note it down that any herdsman that is coming into Ebonyi must follow the procedure and must not ‘carry’ animals late into Ebonyi state. You bring animals by (via) vehicles and there is (are) no cattle routes in Ebonyi state. There is is no grazing reserve in Ebonyi, there is no colony Ebonyi.

“So, no animal should come to Ebonyi by routes, it is by vehicle and before they are coming, the ‘Ardo’ they are coming from should do a letter that they are coming in here. You cannot come into somebody’s farm without his permission, you can’t do that.

“Anybody that kills the cows of a Fulani man, should go to prison for one year and also pay for the cattle. Any Fulani man that destroys the farm of a farmer, will go to prison for one year and pay for the cost of the farmland.”