Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has restated the commitment of his administration to the strictly enforce the anti-open grazing law already passed by the State House of Assembly. Ikpeazu gave this assurance while addressing a delegation of the Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence Dr Samuel Kalu Uche at the Government House, Umuahia on Thursday, stated that the move was in “response to the excesses of criminal herdsmen terrorizing our people. and destroying our farmlands”.

He assured that “plans were underway to flush the criminal herdsmen from our forests”, even as he restated the commitment of his administration to the security of lives and property of Abians. The Abia chief executive described as worrisome the absence of anyone from the Southeast region of the country leading any of the several outfits that make up the security architecture of Nigeria and maintained that that while the South East region is a direct victim of the activities of criminal herdsmen and other sundry security challenges, nobody from the region is part of the highest decision making body when it comes to security.
He stressed the need for Igbo youths to tread with caution in the prevailing security situations, pointing out that with resilience, dedication and the age-long Igbo apprenticeship mentorship system, Ndigbo will definitely lead in the socio-economic landscape of Nigeria.
The Governor who noted that Abians are known globally for their ingenuity and entrepreneurial skills and that the State has remained the SME capital of Nigeria, added that no foreign direct investment will be recorded in the midst of insecurity.
Ikpeazu therefore expressed confidence in the ability of The Methodist Church Nigeria in managing the physical, spiritual and mental upbringing of children, assuring the church of his administration’s readiness to partner with the church in the academic development of Abia children.
He assured that his administration would consider the request of the Prelate for Government to return some schools originally owned by the church.