From: Obinna Odogwu, Abakaliki

The Ebonyi State Government has said that it was preparing an Anti-Grazing Bill which it would send to the state House of Assembly for onward passage into law.

This, according to it, was to checkmate the criminal activities of some suspected Fulani herdsmen in different parts of the state.

The was disclosed by the Senior Special Assistant to Governor David Umahi on Internal Security, Dr. Kenneth Ugbala, while inspecting some farmlands destroyed by suspected Fulani herdsmen at Mgbede, Akaeze and Amaonye areas of Ishiagu in Ivo Local Government Area of the state.

The visibly angry Ugbala lamented the level of damage done to the farms by the cattle and assured that the anti-grazing bills, when passed, would lay to rest the issues of Fulani herdsmen attacks in the state.

He, therefore, appealed to the people of the area not to carry out a reprisal attack on the cattle. He said that, already, the state government was addressing the matter to avoid future occurrence.

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But as part of measures to beef up security in the areas, Dr Ugbala inaugurated a 10-man vigilante group to help in securing the lives and properties of the people of the area.

He advised the security agencies and the neighbourhood watch members to intensify efforts in safeguarding the farmlands to avoid clashes with the herdsmen.

Reacting, the National President of Mgbeede Akaeze Development Union, Dr. Raymond Enya, expressed sadness over the destruction of their farmlands by the suspected Fulani herdsmen.

He lamented that the herders have destroyed all the farmlands in the area. He appealed to the state government come to their aid to save the farmers from untold hardship.

Enya regretted that most of the farmers lost their lives to the incident, while majority of their women no longer visit their farms as a result of the fear of Fulani herdsmen.

Some farmers in the community, who spoke with newsmen, including Chief Raymond Odii, Joshua Obasi, John Agu and Chikezie Uko lamented that they have lost millions as a result of the attack on their farms by the herdsmen.