Ebonyi state governor David Umahi has disclosed that is state will not offer land to the federal government for the establishment of its proposed cattle colonies.

 

Emmanuel Uzor, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor in a statement on the issue said Governor Umahi is a member of the Presidential Committee headed by the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo to reconcile and ensure peace between the farmers and herdsmen across the country and he is doing everything within the armbit of the law to ensure peace in his own state.

 

“The traditional rulers are not just custodians of culture and tradition but also part of peace building. They must ensure peace in their localities by first of all identifying the people living in their communities especially the herdsmen. No herdsman is allowed to graze their cattle on our lands and in an event of that, the herdsmen pay the double value of crops damaged and on repeat of such, the herdsmen will be forced to leave the community.

 

“The cows are dear to the herdsmen same way the crops are dear to the farmers, most especially our belief in sanctity of human life which has been wasted on some areas in the country.

 

“To ensure security and safety of our people and herdsmen who have lived peacefully with us all these years without problem and to ensure there is no infiltration of killer herdsmen from neighbouring states and countries, traditional rulers are to collate data on herdsmen operating in their communities across the state for easy identification and maintenance of peace. The data should include herdsmen’s names, location and contact phone numbers of their leaders,’ he said.

 

He urged traditional rulers to hold constant meetings with the herdsmen so that they can identify those from Niger Republic and other areas that foment trouble.

 

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