The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has once more, condemned the incessant attacks in Igbo land and some other parts of Nigeria by suspected herdsmen, and therefore, called on affected states to pass legislations restricting cattle rearing to modern ranches.
Similarly, he maintained that unless Nigeria was restructured to make it more efficient and productive, it would be difficult for the country to wriggle out of security challenges, pervasive poverty, and retarded growth as successive leaders would only be dealing with the symptoms, not the root causes of a festering illness.
Ekweremadu spoke at the weekend in New York, the United States of America, during the 2016 Convention of the World Igbo Congress (WIC).
He, however, said that while the country awaits the much-needed restructuring, the incessant havoc wrecked by suspected herdsmen was unacceptable because they had monumental socio-economic consequences on the nation.
Commending the efforts of various state governments at managing the humanitarian crisis resulting from the attacks and ensuring there is no total breakdown of law and order, the lawmaker emphasised that every legitimate step must be taken to end the menace and avoid a dangerous situation where the people begin to resort to self-help.
He said: “Governments of various states in Igbo land and indeed other parts of the country should immediately consider enacting legislations that confine cattle-rearing to modern ranches as obtainable in developed societies. In fact, our governments could go a step further to invest in constructing and leasing out modern ranches.
“This will produce healthier animals, give better products, provide employment, add value to the farm products and help in promoting peaceful co-existence as well as sifting armed bandits and terrorists from real farmers doing legitimate business”.
Ekweremadu, however, warned that enforcement of such measures should not be left entirely in the hands of the federal security agencies.
– Authority
