Night Cattle Grazing Banned in Enugu

In a bid to avert bloody clashes between herdsmen and local farmers, the Enugu State Government has banned grazing and rearing of cattle at night. Also banned are the carrying of firearms or any form of weapons by the herdsmen as well as the movement of cattle from one location to another at night in the state. The state Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, announced the ban during a meeting he held with leaders of Fulani/Shuwa Arab herdsmen in the state.

Another far reaching decision taken during the crucial meeting yesterday was the setting up of a peace committee made up of representatives of the various interest groups from the Fulani/Shuwa Arab community in the state, government representatives and security agencies. During the meeting convened by the governor which was also attended by leaders of some communities affected by the menace of the herdsmen in the state, it was also decided that compensation would be paid by herdsmen whose cattle destroy farm crops while the communities will pay for any cattle killed by their members. The governor had convened the meeting in furtherance of ongoing efforts of the state government to find a lasting solution to the lingering clashes between Fulani herdsmen and their host communities, especially in the wake of the recent Nimbo killings.

It was also decided that violators of these resolutions would be made to face the full wrath of the law. Addressing the meeting which was held at the Government House in Enugu, Ugwuanyi sued for peace among all residents of the state even as he regretted the recent attacks by the herdsmen. Present at the meeting were the Secretary of the Fulani Community in the state, Bala Ardo; the leader of the Fulani community, Alhaji Ado Saidu Basu, and the leader of the Shuwa Arab community in the state, Alhaji Ahmed Yahaya, while the traditional ruler of Ibute Nze led leaders of three communities of Akpakwume, Ezi Nze and Ibute Nze in Udi council area of the state to the meeting.