Between 2012 and 2017, a considerable number of villages in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State were brazenly raided, homes dissolved into ashes, businesses destroyed and agricultural settlement sacked by marauding Fulani pastoralists. Needless to reel out trusted statistics of human losses involved in those intermittent attacks by herders at the odd hours of the day on their unsuspecting victims. It would surely cringe the hearts of not quite a few. The atmosphere then, wore mourning cloak. It seemed like undertakers had taken permanent residence in and around the affected communities striking deadening silence in the land. The whole nation was ushered to share in harvests of lamentations which the generous murderous herders have been unremorsefully spreading across the ethnic nationalities in Nigeria. They have decimated in numbers more than war casualties, maimed as much never seen in ethnic skirmishes, ravaged the women folks and minors in a most bestial preoccupation unprecedented in human history.
Nigerians who found no convincing reasons to yield their lands for magisterial appropriation by these barbarians have persisted in the battlefield slugging it out on daily basis. Equally, in a show of co-ordination, the wandering ethnic militia have strived beyond our imagination in putting up stiff resistance deploying every sophisticated weaponry at their disposal to reacquire their” illusionary fatherland” and threatening fire and brimstone to unyielding communities.
Suffice to rehash the ongoing ethnic cleansing in various states of the Federation.
I have taken the pain to regurgitate the above ugly experiences of those unforgettable years, and the indelible imprints it wrought viz-à-viz the Anti-Open Grazing Bill signed into law by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, slamming a heavy ban on the acheulean tradition of herding which rampaging herders angled by the power that be have glued to, a subterfuge witfully employed to perpetrate heinous crimes against humanity. Few States has before now gaveled same bill into law to repel terrorists deodorized as bandits and common herdsmen. Only State governors worth their offices have taken such route damning the political consequences and loss of patronage associated with similar decisive moves to reassert mandate in protecting their citizens from human desecration and carnage from dark forces. In fact, Governor Ortom of Benue State appears to have recklessly fondled with the tail of FG ever since Anti-Open Grazing and Ranches Establishment Law of Benue State, 2017 came into existence.
It is beyond controversy that the amoral and inhuman exploits of criminal herdesmen contribute hugely to the present dwindling economic conditions and the astronomical inflation of farm products plaguing the entire nation. Every community has truly had its bite of the Fulani sad tale. The mounting security threats starring us in the face is a call for regret, which led overwhelmed Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Kastina State, President Buhari’s hometown to charge his citizens to acquire arms and defend themselves.
There is nothing quite ennobling and reassuring than seeing one who professes his readiness to serve his people he has sworn to protect, demonstrate same by sticking out his neck in the line defending his people from wanton destruction from invading mercenaries lurking around on routine ragtag Fulani established image. Public opinions are amply consistent that Open grazing of cattle has no place of reckoning in the increasingly globalizing world. It tickles the heart that a deluge of these prevailing views originate from Northern part of the country especially from the binoculars of detribalized patriots vigorously advocating for ranching system.
Governor Ugwuanyi has again proved his clout especially at this trying times of security adversity crippling economic and social life of many States of the Federation. Certainly, difficult situations unmasks true leadership unlike peace times. We are not unaware that a gale of calculated mishap will sweep through the center down to the Lion Building edifice, but Ugwuanyi is not that breed of man that caves into unholy factors. We shall at all time stand up for a man who stands for us. The Anti-Open Grazing Law is long overdue, unfortunately laws of this kind are not hastily passed. They require intelligence, diplomacy and doses of caution to achieve desired end. However, there is no better time than yesterday.
Written by
Hon.Mrs. Bibian Anekwe
SSA to the Governor of Enugu State on Mobilization and Empowerment
Enugu Di N’akachukwu Movement ( DG)
