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| Herdsmen and their cattle |
The Northern Leaders, Livestock and Perishable Goods Market traders and Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria rose from a meeting on Saturday and resolved to ban herdsmen whose families are not living in the Southeast, from grazing their cattle in the zone.
They also announced the shutting down of four livestock and perishable goodsโ markets in Enugu State between Wednesday, August 14 and Thursday, August 15 to enable them embark on the sensitisation tour of the markets and 14 Fulani settlements in the state.
The Southeast Chairman of MACBAN, Alhaji Gidado Siddiki, who briefed newsmen on the decisions of the Northern leaders after the meeting, said it was part of their efforts to stem the rate of crime and criminality among their members.
He said: โPart of the things we are doing to checkmate insecurity in Enugu and other parts of Southeast is that anybody who is not living with his family here will no longer be allowed to graze with their cattle.
โYou cannot just come with your cow and graze after you destroy peoplesโ farms or do something wrong, you will run overnight and leave us with the problem.
โAnybody who wants to live in Enugu State or in the Southeast should be here with his family so that there is no way you will run overnight and leave your family.
โThis is what is done in other states in the north. If you are not with your family, there is no how you can come here so that you will not come and destroy our peace and go.โ
He added: โduring the sensitisation exercise all livestock and perishable goods market will be closed down, either in cattle markets, Fulani settlements, or wherever they exist throughout Enugu State.โ
He said a 14-man committee had been constituted for the programme for the purpose of identifying all their members and weed out infiltrators.
They regretted the unfortunate incident that led to the death of Rev. Fr. Paul Offu of St. James The Greater Parish, Ugbawka in Nkanu East Local Government Area and condoled with the Catholic Community, his immediate family and the people of the state.
They offered to join hands with the police, the military and other security agencies in ensuring maximum security in our neighborhood.
