Rivers Assembly directs security agencies to halt encroachment of herdsmen

The Rivers State House of Assembly at plenary on Tuesday directed the security agencies in the state, to take urgent steps that would check the encroachment into farmlands by herdsmen in the state.
The lawmakers said that the directive, especially to the state police command, under Acting Commissioner of Police, DCP Ahmed Magaji, has become necessary to forestall imminent crisis arising from herdsmen activities.
In a resolution of the House, after debating a motion moved by member representing ONELGA 11, Hon. Nathaniel Uwaji and seconded by Hon. Barine Deeya, the Assembly also directed the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in Omoku, Okwuzi and Ndoni communities to liaise with leaders of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni and the leadership of the council to “seek ways that will profer short, medium, and long term solution” as relates to Fulani Herdsmen activities in those communities.”
The Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi Owaji-Ibani, then directed the Clerk of the House to convey the resolution of the House to the security agencies. He stated that the House would continue to do everything within the ambit of the law to protect lives and property of Rivers people.
In presenting the motion tagged: “Motion to forestall the breakdown of law and order in some communities of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Constituency II, as a result of activities of some Herdsmen”, Hon. Uwaji, stated that the herdsmen had lived peacefully with the affected communities, until recently.
Hon. Uwaji called on the House to take urgent steps that would halt an imminent clash between the communities and Herdsmen.
“It will interest you to know that recently herdsmen have constituted themselves into a nuisance. They no longer take their cattle to open fields to graze, but now take them to farmlands for their pasture. These cows have destroyed my people’s crops leaving my people with prospects of a lean harvest. The worrisome thing about this, is that these Fulani herdsmen go about this destruction brazenly and in wanton manner. This has resulted in altercation between them and the good people of my constituency.”
The lawmakers condemned the actions of the Fulani herdsmen in Rivers State, pointing out that if urgent steps were not taken, it would soon spread through the state and might result to mayhem.
The Deputy Speaker of the House and member representing Abua/Odual Constituency, Hon. Marshall Uwom, while supporting the prayers of the motion, argued that there is no section of the Nigerian Constitution that gives right to the Fulani herdsmen to destroy people’s property. “The violence meted on Nigerians by these cattlemen is unprecedented,” he stated.