Forum Seeks Enactment Of Anti-Grazing Law In Edo State

Posted by Eric Ojo Featured, Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria, News From The State Friday, September 10th, 2021

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Akoko Edo Forum (AEF), an umbrella group of Akoko Edo sons and daughters in Nigeria and the diaspora, has called on the Edo State Government to urgently enact the Anti-open grazing law in the state as agreed by the Southern Governors.

The group gave the charge in a communiqué issued at end of it inaugural meeting penultimate Saturday. The meeting was attended by notable Akoko Edo sons and daughters in the private and public sectors, including industry captains, professionals, academics, retired military officers and civil servants, as well as political office holders.

The meeting provided the attendees’ opportunity to discuss the core objectives of the Forum as a vehicle and the desire to support the developmental trajectory of the LGA, which according to the group, is one of the oldest in Nigeria but has the unenviable status as one of the least developed amongst the 774 local government areas in the country currently.

The Forum condemned the high level of insecurity, kidnapping, and infiltration of the Akoko Edo and its environs by herders and the recent shooting of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Igarra, the local government headquarters.

The group also resolved to immediately raise funds to assist the wounded DPO and harped on the need for its Security Committee to develop a sustainable security plan for the LGA and liaise with Akoko Edo Vigilantes in helping to curb the activities of kidnappers in the locality.

The Forum further called on the state government to urgently add Akoko Edo Vigilantes into the Edo Vigilante Security Network, adding that the AEF will also key into recent announcement by the state government to employ10,000 people as vigilantes and equip same.

They equally harped on the need for the government to work with neighboring states and LGAs to address the prevailing security challenges.

Similarly, the group called on the Royal Fathers to ensure that herdsmen do not use their domains as settlement and the profiling of youths in the LGA to address the increasing acts of criminality in the area.

The Forum recommended the setting up a process for the establishment of Akoko Edo Trust Fund or Akoko Security Trust Fund to address the insecurity and underdevelopment in the LGA.

They also resolved to constitute a finance and fundraising committee to develop and implement a fundraising strategy for the Forum for sustainable funding of projects and operations, adding that the AEF is will work and partner with other groups, businesses, NGOs, agencies, and other stakeholders interested in developing the LGA.

“All elected and appointed political office holders should be asked to join the Forum and engage all elected representatives on the representation of the LGA. A quarterly or half-yearly virtual town hall is to be held with all elected representatives from Akoko Edo. Arrangement and modalities of the townhall to be perfected by the Select Committee”, the communiqué added.