Anambra is our home – Herdsmen tell Soludo

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MCBAN), South-East zone, has frowned at the ban on the movement of cattle on foot in every part of Anambra State.

The group said the development would affect its members’ source of survival in the state, if it is eventually enforced.

Recall that the Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, had last month banned movement of cattle on foot in every part of the state.

Soludo, who had met with members of Anambra State Cattle Menace Committee at the Government House, Awka, said the ban was in compliance with the 2021 anti-open grazing law of the state, adding that enforcement would begin from September.

However, the leader of the association, South-East zone, Gidado Siddiki during the group meeting held in Awka, on Monday begged the governor to suspend the implementation at the moment to enable them to educate their members more on how to go about it.

“Majority of us (Fulani) don’t know any business more than the rearing of cattle in this world. Some of us were born and bred in the business of rearing cattle in Anambra State. We have no other place to go.

“The herders are aware that the state governor has flagged off a massive tree planting exercise in the 181 communities as part of measures to control the spread of gully erosion in the state, and as law-abiding citizens, we have cautioned all our members and equally urged them to protect the trees in their various host communities.

“Our members have remained committed to peaceful coexistence with their host communities in the state and the South-east geopolitical zone at large. We, therefore, called on concerned stakeholders including the media to help us beg the governor, if possible, to revise his decision on the ban,” Siddiki added.