Insecurity: Southeast Stakeholders’ Summit Insists On Ban Of Open Grazing

By Ayodele Oni

In a move to tackle the escalating wave of insecurity gripping the Southeast, a stakeholders’ summit has recommended total ban of open grazing by herdsmen in the  region.

The summit coordinated by the Senate and held in Enugu, on Thursday, promised an “all-hands-on-deck” approach and a firm commitment to addressing region-specific issues, notably the conflict arising from open grazing.

The National Security Summit drew a comprehensive assembly of key actors, including lawmakers, respected traditional rulers, representatives of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, security agencies, local government chairmen, town union leaders, and religious organizations, reflecting the gravity of the crisis.

Coordinating the Southeast edition, Senator Austin Akobundu underscored the urgency of the gathering, stressing the need to gather firsthand perspectives from the communities hardest hit by violence and instability.

He painted a grim picture of the region’s current state, lamenting the “alarming rise in insecurity” characterized by killings, property destruction, and a severe disruption of daily life.

“Whole communities are traumatized and displaced, farmlands abandoned, schools disrupted, with grave socioeconomic consequences including spikes in poverty, hunger, and illiteracy,” Akobundu asserted.

While condemning violent agitations, the Senator maintained that violence could not be a path to self-determination.

He called for a focus on addressing the deep-rooted issues fuelling the unrest, citing inequity, marginalization, youth unemployment, and poverty as critical areas for intervention to restore lasting peace.

Akobundu acknowledged the efforts of the Southeast governors in combating the challenges and assured participants that the Senate would act swiftly on the summit’s suggestions, including potential legislative action to amend, repeal, or enact new laws to strengthen national security architecture.

Adding a regional voice to the discourse, Hon. Uche Ugwu, Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, hailed the summit as a timely platform for the region to articulate its concerns and propose viable solutions.

Ugwu stressed that sustainable security hinges on robust intelligence gathering and economic stability, urging authorities to focus on these areas to mitigate the vulnerability of the region’s youth.

The Speaker highlighted the critical need to rebuild trust between communities and security agencies, adding that “When communities trust their security agencies and when leaders speak with one voice, insecurity loses its strength.”

Ugwu pinpointed the perennial conflicts between farmers and herders as a major source of violence, taking a firm stand against open grazing.

“Anything open grazing in the Southeast is against the peace of the land,” he firmly declared, advocating its immediate cessation in the region.

The Speaker renewed the persistent call for the establishment of state police, arguing that decentralized policing would significantly enhance security by ensuring law enforcement is closer to the populace and capable of quicker response times.

“Security cannot be achieved by force alone,” Ugwu concluded, emphasizing that creating an enabling environment remains paramount for community safety.”

Also, the chairman, Enugu state traditional rulers council, Igwe Samuel Asadu commended the senate initiative, acknowledging the efficacy of the grassroots approach to security emphasized by the summit.

Igwe Asadu expressed readiness of the community leaderships in the state in tackling insecurity from its very base by aiding intelligence gathering.

The summit is part of a nationwide series by the Senate committed to identifying region-specific solutions, aiming for a unified and collaborative effort amongst all stakeholders to address Nigeria’s multifaceted security challenges.