By Kenneth Onuoha
365Daily– The Youth Wing of the highest Igbo sociocultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has expressed support for the position of the Southern Governors that open grazing should be banned across Southern Nigeria.
The group also condemned the recent attack by bandits on Nigeria Defence Academy, Afaka Kaduna State, where two Army Officers were shot dead and another abducted; and called on the Nigerian government to commence immediate investigation into the attack.
The National Leader of Ohanaeze Youth Wing, Engr. Damian Okafor, who stated this on Wednesday, August 26, 2021, while briefing Journalists in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, also declared that open grazing, which he described as an old practice, should be abolished.
Okafor said open grazing had triggered conflicts between host communities and migrant herders, leading to several deaths in many states across the country.
The Southern Governors had during their meeting held at Delta State on May 11, 2021, resolved that “open grazing of cattle be banned across Southern Nigeria, while noting that development and population growth has put pressure on available land and increased the prospects of conflict between migrating herders and local populations in the South.”
It added that “Given this scenario, it becomes imperative to enforce the ban on open grazing in the South (including cattle movement to the South by foot).”
The Ohanaeze Youth wing said it was solidly behind the unanimous decision of the Southern Governors in the said meeting.
“The Igbo Youths stands by the unanimous decision of the 17 southern Governors made known to the general public through a communique on May 11, 2021 resolving to ban open grazing of cattle in their states. We don’t want to lose more innocent lives in Igbo Land. Enough of this carnage.
“Whoever that is subscribing for opening grazing in Igbo Land should know that our 17 southern Governors are not stupid to have defended their people through that resolve. That person should know that he/she is the core enemy of Igbo Land and shall be treated as such,” Okafor said.