Edo Governor Clarifies Difference Between Bandits And Criminal Herders

EDO State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has clarified that banning open grazing in the southern part of the country will allow the Federal Government to tackle banditry, as distinct from criminal herders. Obaseki, who addressed journalists in Benin City, said the ban would prevent farmer-herder clashes and assist governments to check the activities of bandits.

“Banditry has been associated with cattle rearing in the country, but we also have the challenge of protein sufficiency. Many people invest in the business and get some of the Northern folks, who help to herd cattle.

He said the southern governors’ decision to ban open grazing was to restrict herders’ movement adding:      “We resolved in the meeting that we don’t want to see herders roaming our streets and bushes. Herding business should be restricted to particular locations.

Meanwhile, the Edo State Government has charged the people and stakeholders to support the government in its efforts to prevent a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure the health of the people.

Permanent Secretary, Edo State Ministry of Health, Dr Osamwonyi Irowa, urged cooperation with the government in its efforts to contain the pandemic.

“We can work together to contain the pandemic, save lives, ensure continuity of livelihoods and come out stronger as a state. Let us stand and work together to defeat COVID-19 as we had done previously in the first and second wave,” Irowa stated.

Noting the government had increased its vaccination campaign, to contain the pandemic, he said no fewer than 36,000 eligible persons, including health workers, strategic leaders and other frontline staff, had been vaccinated in the first phase of the exercise.