Ijaw group urges N/Delta governors to sign anti-grazing laws

Open grazing 2

Open grazing banned

By Nathan Nwaƙamma

The Pan Ijaw socio-cultural group, Ijaw National Congress (INC), on Wednesday, urged governors of Niger Delta states to sign anti-grazing laws in order to curb herders/farmers’ clashes.

Prof Benjamin Okaba, President of INC, made the call in an interview session with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa.

He noted that recent clashes that led to the loss of lives call for security consciousness amongst the citizenry.

Okaba said that the recent developments in Bayelsa and Delta states have made it imperative for state governments in the region to sit up and protect Ijaws by using the instrumentality of existing laws through implementation.

“The herders/farmers’ clashes in some communities in Bayelsa and Delta recently is an eye opener to Ijaws and a vindication to the call for concerted efforts to avert loss of lives by INC.

“Following the security challenges across the country, the leadership of INC warned our people in the Niger Delta to be vigilant and security conscious and the recent wave of violence meted to Ijaws in their homeland is unacceptable.

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“The Bayelsa experience in the past weeks with reported violence and loss of lives on both sides should be a justification for other governors in Niger Delta states to follow the steps taken by Gov. Diri of Bayelsa.

“But for his intervention in the violence following the stabbing of an illustrious Ijaw son by a tricylist who was also lynched in the process, the death toll would have been much higher.

“The Bayelsa governor made it clear that Bayelsa is open to all Nigerians to reside and do legitimate businesses within the ambit of the law, and the INC supports him.

“Ijaw people are naturally friendly and hospitable but our hospitality must not continue to be taken for granted. A tricyclist carrying a dangerous weapon and herders bearing arms cannot be said to be here for business,” Okaba said.

The Ijaw leader stated that enforcing existing laws creates a level playing field to ensure that all businesses, including cattle rearing and farming, can operate without interference from one another.

He added that the legal option should be supplemented by sensitising community leaders to the importance of peaceful coexistence with non-indigenous peoples, as well as raising awareness that security is everyone’s concern.

NAN

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