President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof George Obiozor
Ohanaeze Youth Wing condemns bandits’ attack on NDA, backs Southern Governors on open grazing
[From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki]
Youth Wing of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Word wide has condemned the recent attack by bandits on Nigeria Defense Academy Afaka Kaduna State, where two Army Officers were killed and another abducted; and called on Nigerian government to commence immediate investigation into the attack.
“Igbo Youths condemn in its totality, the invasion of Nigeria Defense Academy Afaka Kaduna where two Army Officers were shot dead and another abducted.
“In view of the foregoing, Igbo Youths under the umbrella of Ohanaeze Youth Wing world wide call on the Federal Government to commence immediate investigation with a view to exposing the perpetrators and sponsors of these heinous crime against the Nigerian Army and be made to face the wrath of the law to serve as deterrent to others criminal elements.”
The National Youth Leader of Ohanaeze Youth Wing, Engr Damian Okafor, who stated this on Wednesday, while briefing Journalists in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, said it was solidly behind the position of the Southern Governors that open grazing be banned across Southern Nigeria.
Okafor who noted that open grazing, which he described as old practice, should be abolished, said the practice had triggered conflicts between host communities and migrant herders, that had led to several deaths in many States across the country.
The Southern Governor had during their meeting held at Delta State on May 11,2021, resolved that “open grazing of cattle be banned across Southern Nigeria; noted that development and population growth has put pressure on available land and increased the prospects of conflict between migrating herders and local populations in the South. Given this scenario, it becomes imperative to enforce the ban on open grazing in the South (including cattle movement to the South by foot).”
He maintained that Ohanaeze Youth wing was solidly behind the unanimous decision of the Southern Governors in the said meeting.
“The Igbo Youths stands by the unanimous decision of the 17 southern governors made known to the general public through a communique on May 11, 2021 resolving to ban open grazing of cattle in their states. We don’t want to lose more innocent lives in Igbo Land. Enough of this carnage.
“Whoever that is subscribing for opening grazing in Igbo Land should know that our 17 southern governors are not stupid to have defended their people through that resolve. That person should know that he/she is the core enemy of Igbo Land and shall be treated as such,” Okafor said.
