ibironkeeniola 
The Ebonyi State Government has outlawed the operation of underage herders in the state, following an expanded security meeting in Abakaliki.
The state also issued guidelines on the operations of cattle breeders.
The law came after consultations from security chiefs and delegates from the state’s Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN).
A communique read by the deputy governor, Kelechi Igwe, warned that the underage herders would be arrested if caught.
The herders’ bosses would also be prosecuted after their arrest, the communique outlined.
“The various communities are by this meeting empowered to arrest and handover to the police any underage herder within your community and the chief herder who is the custodian of such underage persons must be prosecuted by the police, in accordance with our law,” the deputy governor read.
On farmers/herder clashes in the state, the communique mandated leaders and members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association to take responsibility for any act of crop destruction in Ebonyi communities.
In the same light, community leaders were mandated to provide the perpetrators of any attack on herdsmen, for prosecution.
“Henceforth, members of Miyetti Allah and their leadership must take responsibility for any destruction of farms, crops, properties, including any attack on any community on Ebonyi State; rape cases are not exempted from this.
“They must produce within seven(7) days for arrest and prosecution the perpetrators of such dastardly acts from amongst their membership.
“Communities leaders and traditional rulers, development centre coordinators, local government council chairmen, and political office holders must take responsibility and produce attackers and killers of herdsmen or the cows for arrest and prosecution within seven (7) days whenever such occurs.
The statement also warned: “Henceforth, herders must reside in the community where they graze their cattle.
“All persons carrying cow by foot on the tarred road, on our concrete roads must be arrested and handed over to the police within seven days of prosecution by the community within which such infractions come.”
SOURCE: AGRONIGERIA