Edith CHUKU
Worried by the rising insecurity in Imo State, the Igbo National Council INC, has demanded an immediate ban on open grazing in the state.
The group also charged community leaders, stakeholders and youth bodies to monitor the activities and operations of commercial motor cyclist, Okada, that operate in their various communities.
They also called for the reactivation of the Operation Ije Agu security project.
Also, they threatened to reject serving elected political office holders and all the candidates in the upcoming 2027 general elections in the state who fail to condemn the activities of herdsmen, kidnappers, and bandits in Imo communities.
INC President, Mr Chilos Godsent, disclosed these and other demands in a statement he sent to TNN, on Saturday.
The Igbo group directed communities in the state to immediately block cow routes and stop the passage of cows through their communities.
According to INC, “in view of the growing insecurity in Imo State, the leadership team of the Igbo National Council (INC) held a strategic meeting to study the trend of the herdsmen attacks, kidnapping and banditry in many communities in Imo State.The trigger factors, root causes and the possible lasting solutions.
“After deep study and analysis, the Council therefore makes the following demands:
“The Imo State Government should immediately pass a law, the state house of assembly banning open grazing in Imo State. Communities in Imo State should immediately block cow routes and stop the passage of cows through their communities
“Community president generals, traditional rulers, youth presidents, vigilante commandants should immediately come together to set-up a functional community transport and security committee (TSC) with the mandate to profile and monitor the activities and operations of commercial motor cyclist (Okada) that operate in their community.
“The president generals and traditional rulers should convene quarterly community security summit to highlight early warning signs and take steps for early responses. We demand that all currently serving elected political office holders and all the candidates in the upcoming 2027 general elections in Imo State should speak up now to condemn the criminal activities of herdsmen, kidnappers, and bandits in many communities in Imo State or face rejection by the people of their constituencies.
“We demand that community leaders in Imo State should immediately re-activate the Operation Ije Agu Security Project. Finally, we call on interested Igbo activists to set-up a chapter of Igbo National Council (INC) in their communities, wards, LGA and contact the state secretariat of INC in their state for formal inauguration.”
