Headlines
South East Governors ban armed herdsmen, movement of cattle on foot across states
BY KAZIE UKO
Movement of herdsmen and their cattle from state to state, community to community and across farmlands will no longer be allowed in the south east states of the country, according to a proclamation by the South East Governors Forum.
The governors also announced the ban of armed herdsmen who go about with AK-47 and cutlasses and urged security agencies to implement same.
These and other security measures were the high points of the communique reached by the South East Governors Forum, Saturday, at a meeting in Government House, Enugu, Enugu State.
The communique signed by the chairman of the forum, Governor Dave Umeahi of Ebonyi State, on behalf of the five governors of the south east states, also resolved to set up a joint air operation to flush out bandits from all forests in the south east and make it a continuous exercise.
Ebonyi State Gov. Engr. Dave Umeahi
The governors commended the Enugu State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, on the establishment of Forest Guards in the state and encouraged all the other governors in the zone to establish theirs.
On the closure of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, the governors resolved thus: “We, the south east governors acknowledged the safety reasons given by the honourable Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika and we support him for closing the Akanu Ibiam International Airport to save the lives of our people and our visitors.
“Honourable Minister of Aviation has assured us that the Akanu Ibiam International Airport would be reconstructed to meet the Abuja International Airport standard. The runway shall be extended, damaged tarmac rebuilt, new landing equipment with night landing light installed and renovation work shall be completed by December 2019.
“Also, the Sam Mbakwe Airport in Owerri will be given facelift to accommodate flights that would be diverted from Enugu Airport to Owerri Airport.
“Palliative and security measures to be worked out among FAAN, Ministry of Aviation, south east state governors, security agencies and FMoW to ease out inconveniences and make the routes safe through a joint committee.”
The governors subsequently announced the setting up of two committees – Security Committee and Project Supervision and Implementation of Palliative Measures – to interface with the Ministry of Aviation, FAAN, security agencies and Federal Ministry of Works.
They also resolved to write President Muhammadu Buhari to request for a meeting with him and all the service chiefs on security to douse tension in the region.