Bad news for herdsmen as Nigerian governor begins move to arrest illegal, gun-wielding herders
- The spate of kidnapping by some armed herdsmen has forced the Anambra government to tighten security within its borders
- In fact, the government has begun a census of herders in the state to ascertain those who are actually criminals
- Governor Willie Obiano has disclosed that the state will give zero tolerance to criminals who disguise as cattle rearers henceforth
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The Anambra state government has started a move to chase out illegal and violent herdsmen from its borders.
Governor Willie Obiano on Tuesday, March 2, disclosed that the state has commenced a census and registration process for all herders in Anambra, This Day reports.
Obiano said after the exercise, itinerant cattle rearers will not be allowed to reside in the state or even given permission to pass through it to other regions.
The governor noted that herdsmen must be arrested and prosecuted when caught because they are criminals.
Source: Twitter
He claimed, however, that herders who actually cause trouble come from outside the state.
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His words:
“The ones causing trouble are not here, they come in from outside. Also, we have heard reports of herdsmen who carry arms. Any herdsman carrying arm is a criminal, and we will not tolerate that. If you find them, report them because they are criminals.
“We have prosecuted some in the past. We will not allow itinerant herdsmen to pass through Anambra State after the census. We will have the names, phone numbers and address of all herdsmen in the state, and we will be holding meetings with them at intervals.”
Meanwhile, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria had pledged its commitment to peaceful coexistence between its members and their host communities in the southeast region.
Gidado Siddiki, the leader of the association in the southeast made the pledge while speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu state on Monday, February 15.
Siddiki explained that in spite of some isolated cases of misunderstanding, members of the group have had a good relationship with the people of the area.
Onyirioha Nnamdi is a graduate of Literature and English Language at the University of Lagos. He is a Politics/Current Affairs Editor who writes on news and political topics for Legit.ng. He brings into his reporting a wealth of experience in creative and analytical writing. Nnamdi has a major interest in local and global politics.
Source: Legit.ng
