Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha yesterday urged corps members not to reject postings to any part of the country, for fear of attacks by the rampaging herdsmen.
Okorocha gave the advice when the Director-General of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.- Gen Suleman Kazaure, paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House Owerri.
The governor counseled corps members to take such postings as acceptance of patriotism, noting that patriotism were not only the fear of the law, but also the love for one’s country.
He said: “The greatest love a man can show for his nation is that he dies to save his nation. We must therefore never for reasons of terrorism or cult activities, refuse to fight this battle of indivisibility of the nation.”
According to him, the essence of the scheme is for integration, lamenting “our country is going through a very difficult moment, with harassment by men of underworld who have organised themselves to humiliate, kill and maim the people.”
As part of measures to improve on the youth service, he canvassed that it was time, perhaps for corps members to be given military training for the purpose of defending themselves.
The governor described Kazaure as a ‘vibrant soldier with integrity,’ stressing that Nigeria stands to benefit from such men contributing their quota to the nation’s development.
The NYSC boss commended Okorocha for approving the construction of a befitting camp for the corps members.
Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, has assured the people not to panic over any attack by herdsmen.
Lakanu, who visited the herdsmen in their settlements in Okigwe, urged the people to discountenance any rumour or insinuations about possible violence between the two groups.
He appealed to them to move about their businesses and co-habit peacefully with their host communities.
The CP, who later visited the area Command Headquarters, Okigwe, disclosed that he had ordered personnel of the command to beef up security in the area, asking the herdsmen not to graze their cattle in the farm lands of their hosts to prevent clashes.
Security operatives attended the meeting, including chairman of Okigwe Local Council, Sunny Chiadi, the traditional ruler of Okigwe area, Eze Bernard Alisi and members of the Hausa/Fulani cattle breeders.
The herdsmen promised to maintain the peace, stressing the CP’s assurance of security had rekindled their hope.
