The former governor spoke yesterday in Umuahia on the heels of the
recent clash between herdsmen and farmers in Ugwuleshi Autonomous
Community in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State where 76 farmers
were arrested by fake solders and dumped in Umuahia prison.
He strongly condemned the menace, saying the frequent clashes pose serious security threat to the nation.
Orji, who recalled that herdsmen / farmers clashes have remained a
reoccurring decimal in the country, called on the federal government to
find a quick solution to the menace before it gets out of hand
“I know that when I was a governor, it was a problem for us here. Even
now, the problem has persisted. It has been severally discussed even at
the National Assembly by way of motions and bills.
“One of the ingredients of a motion is to allow the consciousness of
people on a particular issue of governance so that the appropriate arm
of government which is the executive can take necessary action.
“We don’t have the army; we don’t have the police. It is the law that
we have. The Senate is not happy about it. The federal government is
also reacting by trying to find a grazing place for cattle. We believe
that finding a grazing place for cows will give respite to farmers and
indigenes.
“There is no person in Nigeria who is happy about it. There is no
person who has spoken in favour of it. It is all condemnation. The
federal government should take action to make sure that the evil is
stopped.
“As far as I am concerned, it is not good. How can you come to a
community with your cattle and invade a farm and when the farmers come
to defend their crops and property, you intimidate them?”
The former governor also condemned the activities of some security
operatives whom he accused of bias in handling clashes between herdsmen
and local communities.
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