The Imo Sociocultural Organization and Town Unions Monday called on the people of the state to prepare for a peaceful protest against the planned establishment of cattle ranching in the state.

The group’s Coordinator Mr. Emeka Diwe and Secretary, Sylvester Nwogu, through a statement to the press in Owerri, claimed that the people of the state are angry.

It was gathered that the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Imo state chapter, had raised an alarm over the said plan by the Imo state House of Assembly, to pass a bill in order to legalize cattle ranching in the state.

Also, it had been reported that, some communities in the state had suffered set back as a result of invasion into their farms by herdsmen.

More so, some women in the state were reportedly fined for protesting against herdsmen.

According to the group’s statement, “We the Coalition of Imo Sociocultural Organization and Town Unions have rejected the bills for the establishment of ‘Cattle Ranches’ in Imo state as well as bill for the registration and issuance of Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of lands in the rural areas currently before the Imo State House of Assembly.

“Cattle rearing is a personal business of the Northerners and herdsmen who do not own any land or village in Imo state.”

They lamented that, “Imo State House of Assembly abandoned other critical areas begging for their intervention, only to dabble into the dangerous invitation of the Herdsmen into Imo State through the said bill.

“Another worry is the registration and certification of rural lands by the Imo State Government, it is another ploy to defraud the poor villagers and deprive them of their ancestral lands.

“The dangers of the activities of the Fulani Herdsmen portend in any area they come in, we urge the Imo state House of Assembly to respect people’s opinion and drop the bills in the interest of the rural farmers and our helpless women.

“Igbo people who are known all over Nigeria as spare parts dealers and traders are not given free land or stores in any part of the country, rather, the buy lands and rent shops at expensive rates to do their business.

“So, the coalition called on the villagers, farmers and all Town Unions in Imo State to prepare, and mobilize them for peaceful protest to the Imo State House of Assembly, should the bills continue to be read at the floor of the House.”