The Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, has issued a directive declaring all herdsmen bearing arms should be tagged as criminals.
The governor deemed it is foolish to deal with such a development carelessly, and said that a fresh census for all herdsmen in the state has commenced.
Once the exercise is concluded, According to Obiano, the state will no longer tolerate itinerant cattle herders settling in the state, or even passing through the state with their herds.
Obiano stated this Tuesday in a stakeholder meeting on security with heads of various communities, security chiefs, traditional rulers, and other groups in the state.
“We have done a census of herders in Anambra State last year, and they were 77 in number. We are doing a new one now, and after the census, we will never allow itinerant herdsmen to come in again.
“The ones causing trouble are not here (Anambra), they come in from outside. Also, we have heard reports of herdsmen who carry arms. Any herdsmen carrying arms is a criminal, and we will not tolerate that. If you find them, report them because they are criminals.
“We have prosecuted some in the past. We will not allow itinerant herdsmen to pass through Anambra after the census. We will have the names, phone numbers, and addresses of all herdsmen in Anambra, and we will be holding meetings with them at intervals,” he said.
The governor also the seriousness with which his administration is handling security affairs in the state, disclosing that this approach has been the reason the state has been reiterated proclaimed as the safest in the country.
He said that his administration has been very supportive of security agencies in the state, as security is the responsibility of everyone.
“Anything about security is number one for me. We thank our security agencies for keeping Anambra on the high as the safest state in Nigeria.
“I have distributed over 520 vehicles to security agencies in the state and I made a designated petrol station where you go to take fuel to avoid saying you don’t have fuel when you get distress calls. Today, every police vehicle you see running around is fuelled by me,” he said.
