Group urges Obaseki to ban open grazing in Edo

Gov assures on progress over EMOWAA, repatriation of Benin artifacts

THE New Nigeria Initiative ( NNI), a non- governmental organisation, has urged Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki to ban open grazing to prevent further herders and farmers clashes in the state.

President of the group, Uwadiae Odigie, gave the charge when it visited the Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Peter Aikhuomobhogbe in Benin City.

Odigie said Edo State and the entire country were being gripped by herdsmen’s brutality, cruelty and awful cycle of events.

He lamented that Nigerians have been left to swim in hopelessness, frustration and suffering.

Following the herdsmen attacks, the NNI had on June, 2000, sent a private bill on the prohibition of cattle grazing to the state House of Assembly.

“But regrettably, nothing came out of it and the result has been herdsmen’s reign of reckless bloodshed and criminality in the state.

“The tragic drama mostly in Edo spurred us to re- introduce a modified version of the bill we presented in 2000 to the state House of Assembly titled: A Bill For A Law To Prohibit Open Cattle Grazing In Edo, he said.

While soliciting Obaseki’s support for speedy passage of the bill, he said there was the need for permanent and profound change in the state’s present security situation.

Odigie further drew the governor’s attention to the resurgence of mischievous activities being perpetrated by the outlawed Community Development Association ( CDA) in Ovia East Council of the state.

“We, therefore, call on Governor Obaseki to investigate the development to stop herdsmen from spreading to other parts of the state.

Responding, Aikhuomobhogbe said the government was concerned about the security situation in Edo State, adding: “Before now, various communities have lived with herders peacefully, but suddenly things changed.”