South East Govs ban herdsmen, cattle movement among communities

The Governors of South East geopolitical zone have banned movement of herdsmen and cattle from one community to the other within the zone. Herdsmen The Governors also said they have assurances of the federal government that the shut Akanu Ibiam International airport would be reconstructed by two set of contractors to ensure that the work is completed on December this year.

They also said that the entire states in the zone would in the next one week roll out complete palliative measures as a result of the closure of the Enugu international airport. The Governors made the disclosure in Enugu, Saturday, during their meeting with enlarged stakeholders meeting that included the Minister for Aviation, the Army, Police, the clergy, Igbo leaders, federal ministry of works, among others.

In a communiqué delivered by Chairman of the Governors Forum, Chief Dave Umahi, the stakeholders said they deliberated on two major topics on matters of insecurity and the matters arising from the closure of the Enugu airport. Umahi said their discussion agreed that their earlier joint air operation to flush out bandits from all forest in South East would continue. Two kidnapped locals freed in DRC, two foreigners still held: army(Opens in a new browser tab) He said “We also agreed that we have to put measures in place to restrain movement of herdsmen and their cattle from one state to another which is a source and point of conflict with the natives and farmers. And also restrain the movement of cattle and herdsmen from community to communities across farmlands.” While commending Enugu state governor for establishment of Forest Guards as earlier agreed by South East Governors, the meeting encouraged the remaining South East governors to launch theirs. “South East governors have banned herdsmen who move about with AK 47 guns and cutlasses and we want our security agencies to implement same. South East governors never invited the army nor were the South East Governors informed of any of their operations on Python Dance until the operations were already started in the states, Umahi said. He also disclosed that they would write to President Mohammadu Buhari to request for a meeting with him and all the security Chiefs on issues of security to douse tension in the region.

He also acknowledged the safety reasons given by the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika for the closure of Enugu Airport, saying it was a matter of need to save the lives of people. He said the airport deterioration went on for a long that the government had to close it to save the lives of people.

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