Operation Cow-leg launched in Tamale

Tamale, March 9, GNA - The Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Seidu Iddi has inaugurated a Task Force to flush out herdsmen, who entered the Region illegally with their estimated 15,000 herds of cattle from neighbouring countries.

The exercise code-named "Operation Cow-leg Two" was to have been undertaken last year, but was postponed because of the floods. Speaking at the inauguration of the Task Force in Tamale, on Wednesday, Alhaji Iddi said the activities of the herdsmen have impacted negatively on the social and economic development of the area and only such stringent measures could avert any disastrous consequences.

"Cattle moving in large numbers, pollute water bodies, destroy the vegetation and deprive local livestock of feed. "The herdsmen fell economic trees and intentionally set bush fires in order to get the grass to sprout early for their cattle to graze".

The Regional Minister said it was for these reasons that the herdsmen and their cattle were being flushed out. The communities where the herdsmen operate should co-operate with the Task Force and warned that anyone found to be standing in its way would not be spared.

He said the operation has been carefully designed to reduce the difficulties the herdsmen may encounter.