Governors Okezie Ikpeazu, Willie Obiano, Dave Umahi, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and Hope Uzodinma of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states respectively have up to February 11 to ban open grazing in Eastern Nigeria or brace for a blistering confrontations with Biafra activists.
Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has handed the governors a 14-day ultimatum to either ban open grazing in the region by Fulani herdsmen or get ready to face the wrath of aggrieved youths whose relatives have been suffering from the abuses of the herders.
Kanu has equally directed operatives of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), which engaged the security forces a fierce battle in the Orlu axis of Imo State to return to their trenches pending a fresh operational order for them to act.
The IPOB leader is urging the governors, to as a matter of regional security urgency, ban all manner of open grazing in the area in compliance with the 1969 statutory law of Nigeria that banned such provocative and primitive practice by Fulani herdsmen.
According to him, “IPOB wishes to humbly and most submissively call upon all the governors of the East, to as a matter of urgency, ban all manner of open grazing in the region in compliance with the 1969 statutory law of Nigeria that banned such provocative and primitive practice by Fulani herdsmen.
“The bold step taken by Yoruba governors in banning open grazing in their region is commendable and as such MUST be reciprocated and consolidated by a similar pronouncement in the East.
“If after 14 days there is no firm and decisive action by Eastern governors to ban open grazing in our land, ESN will step into the breach to commence the enforcement of this 1969 Anti-Grazing Law across the entire region. Don’t say you were not informed or given prior warning.”
Alleged activities of some security operatives who were shooting and burning shops in Orlu after an unsuccessful gun battle with ESN, forced the group out of the bushes to confront the army.
The IPOB leader said the call was necessary because he received a verified confirmation that, “#Zoo soldiers, those untrained cowards that only specialise in burning properties, have now left Orlu back to where they came from.”
The IPOB strong man has directed ESN to refrain from any offensive action against those attacking them and the civilian population of Orlu for the time being and monitor the situation in the coming hours and days, stressing that the priority of the security outfit remains the task of ridding Biafraland of foreign terrorists from the Sahel and protecting fathers, mothers and daughters as they farm.
