Bishops call for anti-grazing law

 OWERRI—Bishops of the Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, Anglican Communion, have called on Imo State Government to “immediately halt any plan to allocate grazing fields to nomadic people.” The Anglican clerics also argued that “since cattle rearing is a private business, it must not be given preferential patronage.” The plea was part of the five-point communique they issued at the end of their 28 Regular Provincial Council Meeting, held at the Cathedral Church of Saint Mary Magdalene, Oguta. While condemning in its entirety, what they called “the menace of armed cattle herdsmen and the mayhem they have continued to unleash on innocent citizens”, the clerics equally lamented that their atrocities have continued unabated. “The recent killing of unsuspecting people of Akokwa in Ideato North local government area of Imo State, in their homes, shows that the state is in danger of more daring attacks,” the clerics said. The bishops called on Governor Rochas Okorocha to “rise to the occasion by ensuring adequate protection of lives and property in the state”. The communique equally called on Imo lawmakers to “immediately enact a law to protect the lives and property of the citizens from callous and unprovoked attacks by armed herdsmen”. The federal and state governments were equally urged to take urgent steps to save the lives of Imo people, from the danger posed by the deplorable state of roads. Taking a hard look at the prevailing economic milieu, the bishops lamented that there is so much hunger in the country, and passionately appealed to Okorocha to “desist from acts that will further bring hardship on the people.” They particularly mentioned the demolition of people’s homes and all forms of levies and taxes for emblems, “no matter how plausible the motive may seem at this time in the history of the country."