Herdsmen Killings: Imo Assembly Moves To Ban Open Grazing

In the wake of widespread killings in the country by suspected Fulani herdsmen, the Imo State House of Assembly has moved to ban open grazing of livestock in the state.

The move comes after several agitations by groups and individuals who have called for the initiation of bills to ban open grazing in Igbo-speaking states of Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, Imo, Abia, Rivers and Delta.

The move equally comes amid mounting pressure from the Federal Government for the establishment of cattle ranches across Nigerian states as a possible solution to bring an end to the killing of innocent citizens across the country by suspected herders.

A document dated July 16, 2018, that was sighted by THE WHISTLER on Monday indicates that a “bill for a law to prohibit open rearing and grazing of livestock and provide for the establishment of ranches and livestock administration, regulation and control” passed for first reading in the State Assembly.

The bill, which is seeking to come up with laws that will guide operations of Fulani herdsmen and other livestock farmers in the state, may come up with set rules for the establishment of cattle ranches in the state.

If the bill is successfully passed, Imo will join other states such as Benue, Taraba, and Ekiti which have proscribed open grazing in their respective states as part of efforts to end killings by herdsmen in the country.