*Say only ranching allowed in Igboland

The proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Monday vowed that they will not go back on the ban on open grazing in cows in South East region of Nigeria.

According to the body, a total ban on open animal husbandry takes effect from April 27, adding that it will enforce the ban on open grazing, permitting only ranching of Igbo breed of cattle anywhere in the zone.

Although they said the enforcement is not targeted against any tribe, they said it was to prevent senseless killing of people by Fulani pastoralists.

They also said they were enforcing a ban pronounced by the South-East governors and legislated by the various state assemblies.

IPOB Spokesperson, Emma Powerful in a statement said that “from April 27, 2022, we shall commence the enforcement of the ban on open grazing which has since been pronounced by South-East Governors and passed into law by many States in Biafran land but the Nigeria security agencies have failed to enforce them. 

“Thus, from the said date, no cows should be seen roaming  the streets of Biafraland.

“From April 27, 2022, anybody interested in cow business anywhere in Biafra land, must have a ranch, and properly mark the cows.  

“Cows seen outside ranches with effect from this date  shall be treated as contraband products. 

“Owners of such cows should blame themselves. Owners of cows and ranches should properly mark them with their ranch name or symbol for easy identification.

“The above measures have become necessary to stop the senseless and wanton killings in our land by Fulani jihadists masquerading as herdsmen. 

“We want to stop the incessant invasion of our communities and raping of our mothers and sisters by Fulani herdsmen. Enough is enough! 

“Our action is not targeted against any tribe. We are only taking this measure as a necessity for self preservation.

“Igbo people alone in Biafraland spent more than N3 trillion Naira every year on cows. 

“We, therefore, want to stop using our money to finance the genocidal attacks on our people by Fulani herdsmen. 

“Let them keep their cows that we may have our lives. We want our people to breed native cows in our land and also put them in a ranch. We won’t tolerate the wandering of cattle again in our land.”