Edo plans census for northern settlers

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has disclosed plans by his administration to create a database for northern settlers in the state.

The governor, who made the disclosure when he received leaders of the Arewa community in his office, on Friday, said this would check  attacks by suspected herdsmen.

Some suspected herdsmen, on Wednesday, raped and killed a pregnant woman in Ekpoma, Esan South West Local Government Area of the state, some few weeks after two women were killed by suspected herdsmen in Ewu.

Obaseki said the initiative would allow the identification of strange persons within the domain and urged the Arewa community in the state to embrace the diversity which exists in Nigeria.

“To checkmate the ugly trend, a committee will be set up to carry out community-by-community delineation of northern settlers across the state to help identify new comers and their aims,” Obaseki said.

On the issue of grazing, he said fenced grazing areas with watering facilities would be clearly defined by government for herdsmen to feed their cattle with payment of economic fees for services rendered.

Earlier, Umar, president of the group, appreciated the governor for breaking fast with them and said the Arewa community was unhappy with recent attacks, pledging to support government in identifying and dealing with bad elements among the herdsmen in the state.