The Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has banned underaged herders’ activities in the state.
He warned that any underaged herder caught rearing cattles in the State will henceforth be arrested and the Chief Herdsman in charge of the underage will also be arrested and prosecuted.
The Governor said this in a communique issued at the end of an expanded Security Council Meeting held at the International Conference Centre in Abakaliki.
Leaders and members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association were in attendance during the meeting in the state.
Also, heads of various security agencies were in attendance and the meeting was chaired by Governor David Umahi.
The communique which was read by the Deputy Governor, Kelechi Igwe, said, “The various communities are by this meeting empowered to arrest and handover to the police any under-aged Herder within your community and the Chief Herder who is the custodian of such under-aged persons must be prosecuted by the police, in accordance with our law.”
The statement warned members of Miyetti Allah and their leadership that henceforth, must take responsibilities for any destruction of farms, crops, properties as well as any attack on any community in Ebonyi State, rape cases included.
“They must produce within seven (7) days for arrest and prosecution the perpetrators of such bastardly acts from amongst their membership”.
The communique further warned that Communities Leaders and Traditional Rulers, Development Centre Coordinators, Local Government Council Chairmen and Political Office Holders must take responsibilities and produce attackers of herdsmen or cows for arrest and prosecution within seven (7) days whenever such occurs.
“Henceforth, herders must reside in the (Ebonyi) community where they graze their cattle”.
“All persons carrying cow by foot on the tarred road, on our concrete roads must be arrested and handed over to the police within seven days of prosecution by the community within which such infractions come.”
