By David Uka Abakaliki
Ebonyi state government has again debunked reports circulating in the social media alleging that Ebonyi State Government has established a RUGA settlement for herdsmen in the state.
In a press statement signed by Hon. Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji, State Commissioner for information and Orientation, he stated that the allegations are the figment of the imagination of mischief makers.
He said the reaction has become necessary in view of the sensitivity of the matter to the collective peace and coexistence of the people.
Part of the statement reads “The attention of Ebonyi State Government has been drawn to online circulations by a group of frustrated elements whose objective is to paint the Government black by selling dummy to unsuspecting members of the public.
“Their posts on the 12/10/2019 gave false impressions that herders in their numbers arrived with their families to a particular village in Izzi LGA of Ebonyi State to settle, and that the Ebonyi State Government has established a RUGA settlement for herdsmen”.
“The State Government states in clear terms that the narratives of these online propagandists are nothing but the figment of the imagination of the mischief makers. Their online circulations are totally unfounded, absolutely irresponsible, without foundation and criminally woven to paint Ebonyi State government black before its citizenry”.
“Contrary to the spiritless fabrication of these political jobbers,what happened on 12/10/2019 was the normal movement of cattle rearers who were on transit from their temporary camp at the Centenary City Abakaliki to a neighbouring state, where they have more conducive for their Cattles
“These herdsmen once camped in a government reserved area at the Centenary City, Abakaliki but when government started to develop the place for use as agreed, the herdsmen on their volition decided to look for greener pasture elsewhere in a neighbouring state.
“This movement is well known to the Myetti Allah Association and it has nothing to do with RUGA settlement and there was never a misunderstanding leading to this voluntary decision of the herdsmen.For the avoidance of doubt, there is no specific area in any part of Ebonyi state where the State Government designated to herdsmen for cattle grazing.
“We have neither built a settlement where herders will live nor a settlement where they will grow their cattle or produce milk. We have no RUGA Settlement in Ebonyi State at all, and we don’t intend to have any RUGA settlement in future”.
“We have continued to build on the peace and co-existence that long existed between the farmers and the traditional cattle rearers and we have remained resolute in our enforcement of the farmers/ herders rules for the peaceful grazing of cattle in Ebonyi State”.