As Benue fixes Friday for another mass burial, Anambra group wants anti-grazing law

From Chuks Moses, Awka

The Benue State government says it will conduct a mass burial for a fresh 24 persons killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

The mostly women and children, killed in Omusu Edimoga in Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State.

Mr. Olofu Ogwuche, the Chairman of the Council gave the gory details of the killings to state governor, Samuel Ortom, who visited the community on Tuesday.

President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to visit Benue on his return from Ghana where he is attending the anniversary celebrations.

Meanwhile, a group in Anambra State has asked the House of Assembly to pursue the passage of the anti-open grazing law in the state with all vigor and seriousness it deserves.

The Igbo Patriots, in a two-page letter dated March 6,2018, titled “Fervent Request To Enact Anti-Open Grazing and Anti-Cattle Colony Laws in Anambra State”, delivered and read out by the Assistant Coordinator of Igbo Patriots, Lilian Obiechina to the Assembly through the Speaker Barrister Rita Maduagwu, said they were disturbed by a recent statement of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, cautioning the states not to pass the anti-open grazing laws without first establishing grazing areas.

They described the moves as a tacit plan of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress(APC) federal administration to promote and advance their agenda.

They asserted the resolve and readiness of the South East geopolitical zone to resist the move, pointing out that cattle rearing remain a private and never a national business.

The group told the Assembly: “Expeditiously act in the interest of the people of Anambra state by enacting the anti-open grazing law

“Enact a law that will prohibit the ceding of any part of Anambra land for the purpose of Cattle Colony under any guise.

“Empower the governor as the chief security officer of the state with a law establishing vigilante groups to enable him enforce the law so legislated by the Honourable House.”