By Anayo Okoli & Eric Ugbor

UMUAHIA—THE Federal Government, yesterday, apologized to the people of South East over the destructive activities of herdsmen in the region and assured that permanent solution was being worked out to stop the menace.

The Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh who apologized  on behalf of the Federal Government, also said he had been a victim as the herdsmen had invaded and destroyed crops on his farm.

Audu Ogbeh

According to him, the Federal Government was seriously working out modalities to end the menace of the herdsmen who had no right to carry about AK 47,  to  harass farmers.

Ogbeh, who was reacting to issues and questions on herdsmen attacks raised at the a Federal Government organized Town Hall meeting in Umuahia, said “I sincerely apologize to those whose crops were destroyed by the herdsmen. I was a victim, they have invaded my farm and destroyed crops. Nobody is happy about their activities. We are working hard to stop them. They have no right to carry AK 47.  The army or police cannot follow the herdsmen around, but the Government is doing everything to find a lasting  solution. In a few months you will see the result”.

Earlier, the Minister expressed disappointment that successive Abia State Governments allowed the legacy of late Dr. Michael Okpara, former Premiere of Eastern Nigeria built in the area of agriculture, particularly palm produce, to fade away.

He lamented that 17, 000 hectares of palm established by late Okpara had been abandoned while Nigerian suffered under the yoke of high cost of palm oil.

Other ministers who spoke at the meeting anchored by Information Minister, Lai Mohammed, include Labour and Productivity Minister, Dr. Chris Ngige; Investment Minister, Okechukwu Enelama, and Minister of State, Solid Minerals, Alhaji Abubakar Buhari  Bawa.

Ngige in his contribution said that the Buhari administration had not abandoned the zone and named many dilapidated Federal roads where intensive works were  going on even as he urged Governor Ikpeazu to do Federal roads in his State and tender bills for refund, insisting that the Federal would refund such money if the job was well done.