South East breaking News
ABIA CALLS FOR ENFORCEMENT OF ANTI-OPEN GRAZING LAW
Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has called on security agencies in the State to assist the government in enforcing the Anti-Open Grazing Law of Abia State.
The Governor made the call at Michael Ọkpara Auditorium, Umuahia, while flagging-off the Statewide sensitization workshop against criminal activities in Abia communities. According to him, enforcing the law would help reduce the issue of farmers/herders clashes in the State.
Governor Ikpeazu who was represented by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Ude Oko Chukwu requested the cooperation of stakeholders to ensure the government fights and wins the war against criminality in the State.
He charged critical stakeholders especially, the Traditional Rulers to live up to expectations, stating that the security of the State is also in their hands.
The State Chief Executive equally called on the people of the state to always avail useful information and intelligence to Traditional Rulers, security agencies and government authorities, saying that the era of not knowing who to report to has gone. He assured that the government is committed to protecting the informants.
The Governor who commended stakeholders for making themselves available for the workshop assured that the State would continue to ensure that its citizens were secured and disclosed that he has been assisting security agencies in the state with vehicles and necessary equipment/gadgets and would sustain the gesture.
Presenting their separate lectures, the State’s Commissioner of Police, Janet Agbede, representative of
State Director of Security Services and Director Operations, Mr Etuk Enang, and representative of the Commandant, 14 Brigade, Nigeria Army, Ohafia, Major O. B Olayiwola,
commended Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for putting together the workshop and for enacting laws against criminality in the State as well as providing vehicles to support the various security agencies.
They emphasized the need for critical stakeholders such as Traditional Rulers to collaborate with the government to achieve peace and appreciated Governor Ikpeazu for establishing the farmers/herders conflict resolution committee which has helped in enhancing peace in the State.
They further stressed the need for all to synergize with the government to ensure that security thrives in the state.
The security experts said everybody was the target and beneficiary of the workshop and made a case for all to be conscious of their environment as well as report security issues promptly to the security agencies in the State.
Earlier in his address, the Executive Chairman, Umuahia North Local Government Area, Mr Ugochukwu Njinkeonye stressed the need for all to embrace peace and ensure security is maintained in the communities, adding that security is for all and should be the responsibility of all. He advised that the messages from the workshop should be taken to various communities