The passage and signing of bill banning open grazing of cattle into law in Akwa Ibom State is a signpost effort to curtail the rampaging but confrontational activities of herdsmen using it as a gambit to perpetrate havocs on the life and properties of innocent people, especially farmers.
That some herdsmen in connivance with so-called bandits and other non-state actors have resorted to using an age-long business to commit crimes against humanity is unfortunate. That some privileged people in high places or perhaps in government using public funds and instruments have decided to support archaic business pattern to further evil mission is unheard of and must be condemned and resisted by the peace-loving people.
We commend Akwa Ibom House of Assembly and state government for passing the bill into law. We equally appreciate Southern governors for burying their political parties’ loyalty and religious inclinations by pursuing the matter and directing all states in the geo-political entity to enact the law.
It is one thing for the state actors to enact the law; it is another thing to enforce it. Without enforcement, the law becomes another empty barrel that the gunman fires but could not hit the target.
To give teeth to the law, we hereby call on the state government to set up task force and border patrol teams comprising members of Nigeria Police Force, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to regulate movement of cattle within the state.
Relevant ministries such as Agriculture, Justice, Lands/Water Resources should be empowered to hold town hall meetings with the leaders of cattle unions including Myetti Allah Association of Nigeria (MAGBAN) and other allied bodies operating in the state with a view to educating them on the need to for harmonious relationship with the farmers.
Security operatives should be empowered to go beyond restraining street cattle to checking herdsmen with dangerous weapons in order to forestall proliferation of small arms and light weapons.
We want to enjoin the government to set up mobile court to try and convict offenders without delay to serve as deterrent to others.
We also call on the government to mount enlightenment campaign to sensitise the herders and the farmers on the existence of the law to guide their operations.
It is our fervent hope that if the necessary security apparatuses are put in place, boundaries respected and the law enforced, the herders/farmers fracas would be put rest. Since cattle business is generally seen as a private concern, then Federal government must not interfere by trying to grab land from state government and individuals otherwise such arm-twisting could result in endemic confrontation and crisis.
The state government must provide the enabling environment while the cattle owners must stop using the business to showily vent anger and visit atrocities on the helpless and defenceless.
