Herdsmen menace: C/River to set up management committee

Worried by possible conflict posed by the activities of Fulani herdsmen in the state, Cross River government is setting up a Herdsmen Management Committee to foster a healthy relationship between the herdsmen and their host communities as well as forestall any breakdown of law and order.

The committee will amongst other things manage the relationship between herdsmen and the host rural communities.
This was the outcome of the weekly State Security Council meeting held in the conference room of the governor’s office, Calabar and presided over by Governor Ben Ayade.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after the meeting which was attended by the Deputy Governor, Professor Ivara Esu, State Secuirty Adviser, Mr Jude Ngaji, State Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Fubara Duke said: “We have concluded arrangement to set up herdsmen management committee to amongst other things foster healthier relationship between herdsmen and host communities.”

Duke also hinted: “The governor has assured that the state will not banish any herdsmen from coming to do business in the state but will always encourage them to go about their lawful business at any part of the state.”

Duke while dismissing media reports about the herdsmen’s killing in the state, he said: “Let me assure that His Excellency and the entire security council took serious exception to some stories that made headlines in some sections of the media in the country about the carnage. It was untrue and we use this medium to admonish journalists to always verify their facts by calling on any of the service commanders for briefs before going to press.”

According him, “His Excellency made it clear that Cross River State was not a hostile state, and urged visitors who are visiting the state for all forms of businesses to go about such legitimate affairs without any form harassment or attack on the citizenry.”

On the spate of intra and inter communal clashes being experienced in some parts of the state, the DSS Director further disclosed that “state council has resolved to place a robust mechanism that will enhance collaboration with the various stakeholders to permanently address issues.

“Though the problems are not ones we have on a sustainable level, but we are not taking chances as council has deployed adequate men to all the flashpoints and I can assure you that the situation is now under containment.”

On cultism in the state, Duke explained: “We have been charged by His Excellency to develop a workable template that will help bring the development to a minimal and manageable level such that will allow the citizenry go about their daily businesses without fear of molestation.

“We are more than ever committed at ensuring that the state remains a safe haven for business and leisure, and we urge the citizenry not to relent in their own role by supporting the securities with useful information to retain its status as the safest state and preferred destination in Nigeria.”

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Posted by admin on Apr 5 2017. Filed under Ben Ayade Desk. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry