The Ebonyi State Government has directed that henceforth, all herders in the state should carry identity cards to help in identifying them in the event of a crime being committed.
The Governor also directed that any underaged herder found around communities should be arrested and handed over to the police, going forward.
The Deputy Governor of the state, Dr. Kelechi Igwe, made known the development at a news briefing on the outcome of a special security meeting called by Gov. David Umahi at the Government House, Abakiliki.
Leadership and members of the state chapter of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) were in attendance.
Igwe said that the state government was worried over reported cases of killing of MACBAN members, attack on communities by persons suspected to be MACBAN members, destruction of farm crops and other valuables and incessant cases of rape in the state, hence the directive that “The leadership of the various Local Government Areas (LGAs) should immediately liaise with MACBAN leadership to provide identity cards for herders operating in their domains.
The Deputy Governor said further: “The various communities in the state are empowered to arrest any under-aged cattle rearers grazing around their communities and hand them over to the police for prosecution.
“The chief herder, who is the custodian of such under-aged person, must be prosecuted by the police in accordance with the law.”
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He said that herders would be held responsible for attacks on communities in the state and destruction of farm crops by their cattle.
“Rape cases are not exempted from this as the perpetrators must be produced within seven days for arrest and prosecution.
“Community leaders, LGA chairmen, Development Centre Coordinators, among others, should take responsibility and produce those who attack herders and their cattle for prosecution within seven days.
“Herders should henceforth reside in communities where they rear their cattle and any one bearing arms on the roads in areas where infractions occur would also be prosecuted by the police,” Igwe stated.
Announcing that some areas were out of bounds to cattle rearers, Igwe said that rearing of cattle within the state government house, centenary city, churches, mosques, schools, among others, had been prohibited and offenders to be prosecuted within seven days.
He added, however, that herders would receive COVID-19 palliatives and benefit from the government programmes on Small and Medium Scale Enterprises.
