Tribune / Nigeria: Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano, has launched a helicopter for aerial surveillance of activities of herdsmen in the state.
The governor, who stated this during Workers’ Day celebration in Awka, the state capital, disclosed that before the growing menace of the Fulani herdsmen in the country, he had set up a special committee to foster peace between farmers and herdsmen in the state.
The committee, the governor noted, comprised the leaders of the Hausa-Fulani community in the state, government officials, security agencies and some representatives of the agrarian communities across the state.
“This committee has made the herdsmen pay compensations to communities whose crops were destroyed by their cattle seven times in the past.
“And we have also paid compensation to the herdsmen when one community breached the peace against them.
“That is the nature of our engagement with them in Anambra State,” Obiano stated.
He warned that his administration would deal ruthlessly with the herdsmen should they grow “needlessly hostile against their host communities.”
“There is routine helicopter surveillance across the borders of the state to ensure that any suspicious gathering of people (herdsmen) or curious movements across the borders are quickly picked up and analysed by security experts,” he added.
The governor commended Anambra workers for their support to his administration, saying “if Willie is working, then the workers are also working.
He reassured his administration’s commitment to the welfare of workers, adding that the state government would consider salary increase for workers once there was an increase in Internally Generated Revenue.
Speaking at the event, the chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Anambra State chapter, Comrade Jerry Nnubia commended Governor Obiano for his excellent performance since he took over the reins of leadership two years ago.
“Being a renowned economic planner, astute banker and an accomplished player in world economics, Your Excellency has brought these qualities to bear in the governance of Anambra State,” Nnubia said.
