Igbo leaders meet, reject grazing bill

• Ugwuanyi blames security agencies over Enugu killings
• South-East govs plan to visit Ukpabi Nimbo community

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, yesterday rose from a meeting in Enugu with a call for improved security in the country, even as it rejected the grazing bill now before the National Assembly.

Ohanaeze stated unequivocally that cattle rearing is a private business and therefore should not be used to infringe on the rights of individuals and communities in the country.

Besides, there were also strong indications yesterday of a mother of all protest that involves leaders and various organisations of the zone against the continued attack by Fulani herdsmen on innocent people of the zone in Enugu tomorrow.

The Guardian learnt that the modus operandi of the protest billed for Okpara Square was the epicentre of the meeting of leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and governors, which took place at the Enugu Government House yesterday.

Although reporters were barred from the meeting, the three governors produced by the PDP in the zone, including Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), were in attendance.

Others were Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, among others.

In another development, still nursing the wounds of attack by suspected Fulani herdsmen on Ukpabi Nimbo community in Uzouwani Local Council that claimed lives and property, Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has asked security agencies in the state to explain to Nigerians why the attack took place despite all the assurances they gave him that everything was under control.

Ugwuanyi, who addressed leaders of the state, including senators, House of Representatives members, state legislators and local council chairmen in the presence of top security personnel such as the state’s Police Commissioner, Garrison Commander and State Director of Security Service, did not mince words in deploring the perceived security negligence of the officials after an emergency security council meeting where they assured him that the state was safe.

Besides, South-East governors yesterday rose from their closed-door meeting with Ekweremadu in Enugu with a resolve to visit the troubled Ukpabi Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani Local Council where scores of persons were gruesomely murdered last Monday.

The governors include Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).

Briefing newsmen at the end of their meeting, Ekweremadu said the governors would get their colleague governors from Anambra, Chief Willy Obiano and Rochas Okorocha of Imo State to join them in the proposed visit to the community within the week.

He said the visit aimed at taking stock of the carnage in the area with a view of taking a definite position as leaders of the South-East zone.