The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, (COSEYL) yesterday said they had uncovered illegal grazing of cattle in farmlands in Imo communities, which was causing hardship for farmers.
The group said no form of open grazing would be allowed in the entire Igboland, while calling for the arrest of some herdsmen who they said carry automatic rifles about in the cause of grazing their cattle.
A press release by the president-general of the group, Goodluck Ibem, alerted the Department of State Services (DSS) to move without delay and arrest the marauding herdsmen.
The group said: “The unlawful occupation and destruction of farmlands in Obasa Assa community in Ohaji/Egbema local government area of Imo State by herdsmen with their cattle has brought great famine on the people as their crops have been eaten up by the cows.
“The cattle and their headers have also sent indigenes of the community packing from their ancestral homes and community.
“Open grazing has been banned a long time ago, and anyone or group of persons still involved in such outdated practice is on a wicked mission of taking the ancestral lands of the community they are staying.”
The group said there was a bigger agenda than just cattle grazing which is only a smokescreen, saying this is more so as the herdsmen in the community parade with AK-47 rifles and other dangerous weapons.
“We demand that the Department of State Services immediately arrest these terrorists with AK-47 rifles parading as Fulani herdsmen in Obosa Assa community, and we demand payment of damages for crops and farmlands destroyed by the cows.
“We give those terrorists parading as herdsmen 48 hours to vacate the community immediately and never try or think to come back.”
