The proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) says it would start enforcing the ban on cattle outside ranches from April 27, 2022.
IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Mr. Emma Powerful, stated this in a statement issued, on Monday.
Recall that the IPOB had earlier, in January, 2022, issued a statement on the ban on the consumption and sale of cows in the South-East. The group had said the ban will take effect in April.
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Mr. Powerful said the clarification became necessary so as to reiterate its ban on open grazing in the South-East, which had also since been outlawed by the governors of the region.
He pointed out that from the said date, no cow should be seen roaming the streets in the South-East.
He added that anybody interested in cow business anywhere in the South-East, must have a ranch, and properly mark the cows.
The statement read in part, “From April 27, 2022, we shall commence the enforcement of the ban on open grazing which has since been pronounced by South-East governors and passed into law by many states, but the Nigeria security agencies have failed to enforce them.
“Thus, from the said date, no cows should be seen roaming the streets. Anybody interested in cow business anywhere… must have a ranch, and properly mark the cows.
“Cows seen outside ranches with effect from this date shall be treated as contraband products. Owners of such cows should blame themselves.
“Owners of cows and ranches should properly mark them with their ranch name or symbol for easy identification.”
It added that the above measures became necessary to stop the senseless and wanton killings in the South-East by herdsmen.
It said Igbo people alone spend more than N3 trillion every year on cattle.
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“We want to stop the incessant invasion of our communities and rape of our mothers and sisters by herdsmen. Enough is enough!
“Our action is not targeted against any tribe. We are only taking this measure as a necessity for self-preservation.
“Igbo people alone… spend more than N3tn every year on cows. We, therefore, want to stop using our money to finance the genocidal attacks on our people by Fulani herdsmen. Let them keep their cows so that we may have our lives.
“We want our people to breed native cows on our land and also put them on a ranch. We won’t tolerate the wandering of cattle again in our land,” the statement added.