Governor, Willie Obiano of Anambra has directed that any herdsman found carrying a gun should be treated as a criminal.
Governor Obiano Opined that it is unwise to treat them with levity, adding that a fresh census for all herdsmen in the state has commenced.
Obiano stated this Tuesday in a stakeholders meeting on security with heads of various communities, security chiefs, traditional rulers and other groups in the state.
The governor disclosed that once the exercise is concluded, the state will no longer tolerate itinerant cattle herders settling in the state, or even passing through the state with their herds.
He words: “We have done 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.”
The governor also said that his government takes security seriously, the reason the state has been proclaimed the safest in the country.
He said that his administration has been very supportive of security agencies in the state, as security remained everyone’s business.
“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.
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