Following the recent destruction of farmlands in the Southeast, including one owned by Felicia Nwokonte in Umuahia Abia State, a group, Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), has challenged the governors of the zone to take concrete steps and implement the law banning open grazing across the region.
This was made known through a statement made available to newsmen by the president-general of the group, Comrade Goodluck Ibem.
He called on the southeast governors to take immediate and decisive actions, insisting that if the practice is allowed to continue, it would cause emotional and financial distress to farmers in the zone.
“We express deep concern regarding the distressing incident faced by Mrs Felicia Nwokonte, a 53-year-old farmer from Umuana Ndume in Umuahia North local government area of Abia State.
“Mrs Nwokonte’s farmland has been completely devastated by unchecked cattle intrusion, resulting in the total destruction of her crops, including cassava, yam and vegetables.
“It has come to our attention that the herders broke into her farm by tampering with the padlock securing the premises, allowing their cattle to graze on her carefully cultivated crops. This violation has not only turned her farmland into an unrecognisable wasteland but has also caused her immense emotional and financial distress.
“The escalating conflict between farmers and herders in the region highlights the urgent need for the Abia State governor, Dr Alex Otti, and the other governors in the Southeast to enforce the existing laws on open grazing without delay.
The law must be upheld and those who violate it must be held accountable to prevent further devastation to the farming community,” he said.
