Ebonyi to profile herders

Ebonyi State Government has said it has decided to have the profiles of all herdsmen in the 13 Local government areas of the state to maintain peace between herders and farmers.

Briefing journalists after a meeting with the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), council chairmen, traditional rulers, local government advisory committees and others in Abakaliki at the weekend, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Cletus Ofoke, said the move was also aimed at having the real number of herdsmen in the state.

Ofoke, who is the Chairman of farmers/herders conflict resolution, said: “The meeting was very significant because since the governor appointed technical assistants on herdsmen, they have just participated in our meeting for the first time, so also the local government advisory committee members that have been drafted into the state committee. One of the major reasons for the meeting was to familiarise ourselves, especially the members of Miyetti Allah who have been appointed as TAs.

“The ultimate goal is to ensure that there is peace in all parts of Ebonyi State as championed by Governor David Umahi. One of the resolutions was that within one week, the herders in our various local government areas would be profiled.” According to him, the state government would store the data and phone numbers of the herders.