Insecurity: Igbo youth organisation backs Southern Governors resolutions

The National Youth Leader of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Engr Damian Okafor, says the Youth Wing of the Organisation is fully in support of the resolutions of the Southern Governors as it concerns herders and open grazing in Southern Nigeria.

Engr Okafor made this Known to Journalists in Abakaliki Ebonyi State Capital.

According to Engr Okafor, the Igbo Youths stand 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,” he added.

He alleged that most top politicians in Nigeria are handling national security with levity.

“It is no longer news that many of us are living in pretence over a serious national issue that has kept Nigeria in a state of emergency. Nobody is free in this country again. And any country that is at war with her citizens is on a high way to destruction”

“Open grazing is an old practice of roaming ruminant animals in open fields, plains and bushes in search of pasture or foliage. The system in the last few years has triggered conflicts between host communities and migrant herders, leading to several deaths in many states across the country,” he said.

Engr Okafor said the Southern governors have postulated that the incursion of armed herders, criminals, and bandits into the Southern part of the country has presented a severe security challenge such that citizens are unable to live their normal lives.

Also Read: Southern governors reconvene in Lagos over state of nation

Okafor said the Governors, therefore, resolved “that open grazing of cattle be banned across Southern Nigeria; noted 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. Given this scenario, it becomes imperative to enforce the ban on open grazing in Southern Nigeria including cattle movement to the South by foot,” he added.

“If Nigeria has adopted the presidential system of government from America, why can’t it adopt ranching from the same America so as to enable us live in peace? He queried.

“Do you know that open grazing is the source of insecurity that is ravaging the country as migrants from other countries smuggle arms through grazing routes without being checked? Do the Federal Government enjoy the massacre of her citizens after which, they will pay a tribute to the survivors? Do you know that open grazing has divided Nigeria more than the 1967 civil war?” He asked.

NDA Attack

The Youth Leader also condemned the invasion of Nigeria Defense Academy (NDA)  Afaka, Kaduna State by bandits where two Army Officers were shot dead and another abducted whose body was allegedly found.

“In view of the foregoing, Igbo Youths under the umbrella of Ohaneze Youth Wing worldwide call on the Federal Government to commence immediate investigation with a view to exposing the perpetrators and sponsors of these heinous crime against the Nigerian Army and be made to face the wrath of the law to serve as deterrent to others criminal elements.

“It is worrisome that the unchecked roaming of bandits and armed herders precipitated by open grazing has challenged the security architecture of the country adversely; hence, the call for proper investigation into the recent attack on NDA,” he urged.

Zainab Sa’id