Lawmakers raise alarm over herdsmen rampage in Anambra

The Lawmaker representing Anambra West Constituency, Hon. Victor Okoye and his counterpart, representing Orumba North Constituency, Hon. Romanus Obi in the State House of Assembly, yesterday, during a plenary in Awka, raised the alarm over the rampaging activities of
herdsmen in Anambra State.

Okoye who is the Majority Leader in the House, expressed worry over the recent destruction of crops in some communities in Anambra West Council Area, by cattle belonging to Fulani Herdsmen, called on the
leaders of Herdsmen in Anambra state to abide by the agreement they reached with the state government on the activities of the Herdsmen.

The lawmaker in a motion entitled “Need to curtail the activities of Fulani Herdsmen in Anambra State,” lamented that the Federal Government appeared to have left the people to their fate.

Okoye  told the floor of the house that suspected Fulani herdsmen attacked some communities in Anambra West Council Area where they destroyed crops and sacked a lot of persons from their various
farmlands in his constituency.

He appealed to the State Government to intervene and stop the carnage in his area.

On his part, the member representing Orumba North Constituency, Chief Romanus Obi, regretted that despite measures put in place by the Federal Government to end incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers, like carving some areas as grazing routes, destruction of farm lands by cattle belonging to herdsmen still persists.

Since this destructive attack, it has been observed that no farmer in the communities have engaged in farming activities for fear of being killed.

I am concerned about the heinous and criminal activities being perpetrated by Fulani Herdsmen who in the violent act of ravaging communities, depriving persons of right to life and prosperity, raping, defiling women and destroying farms crops amongst other criminal activities across the country.

“Despite the public outcry and previous resolutions of the National Assembly as regards the criminal activities of herdsmen, there seems to be no visible action on the part of government to curtail, abate or
totally stop the criminal activities of these criminal elements among Fulani Herdsmen.”

The lawmaker who quoted section 33(1) of chapter (iv) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), Hon. Obi said “every person has a right to life and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in the execution of a court sentence in respect of criminal offence of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria.

“The Africa Chapter on Human and Peoples Right of which Nigeria is a signatory also provides for Right to Life and Respect for Integrity of Persons, Freedom from Slavery, Torture, Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading treatment

“Section 43 of the constitution provides that every citizen shall have a right to acquire and own immovable property anywhere in Nigeria.

“The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) in section 14(b) clearly provides that the Security and Welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”

He warned that the situation might get worse if drastic action was not taken to curtail the activities of Fulani herdsmen.

He said, “We cannot continue to live like this in the country, the Federal Government, should as a matter of urgency, step in and curb the criminal activities of these herdsmen.

Hon. Obi, therefore, urged the Federal Government to compel herdsmen to always graze their cattle on areas so designated, instead of doing so on farmlands to end clashes between them and farmers.