Herdsmen/Farmers Clash: Gov Ugwuanyi Compensates Farmers With N5m
Wed Mar 30, 2016 09:45:am National
2.2K By sosa hills
In a decisive move to resolve the lingering crisis and secure the release of 76 villagers detained after the recent clash between Awgu farmers and Fulani herdsmen, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State visited the Ugwuleshi Community yesterday and engaged the villagers and other stakeholders in a town hall meeting.
At the occasion, held at the Ugwuleshi Primary School field, in Awgu Local Government Area, Ugwuanyi promised to compensate the farmers whose farm crops were destroyed with the sum of N5 million but dished out the sum of N3.5 million on the spot for logistics aimed at securing the release of 76 members of the community being detained at a prison custody in Umuahia.
The 76 Awgu farmers are being detained on allegations of illegal possession of firearms in the aftermath of their clash with Fulani herdsmen.
The villagers were arrested on March 17 and dumped at the federal prison Afara Umuahia, the capital of Abia State, after they were arraigned in the magistrate court but denied bail.
Meanwhile, the Department of Public Prosecution Abia State, yesterday, said it was yet to receive the case file of the arrested the 76 farmers from Ugwuleshi Autonomous Community in Awgu LGA of Enugu State.
Still in another development, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), yesterday, issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the federal government to release the 76 detained Awgu farmers, including two village women abducted by the herdsmen or face the organisations local and international wrath.
Governor Uguwanyi who appealed for peaceful settlement of the fracas involving farmers in Ugwuleshi Autonomous Community and the Fulani herdsmen resident in the community that arose over alleged destruction of farm crops of the villagers by the herdsmen, released the money to the Awgu transitional chairman, Hon Stanley Okeke.
While commending the Ugwuleshi Community for the peaceful way they have conducted themselves since March 17, 2016, when their men and sons were taken to Umuahia, Ugwuanyi described the crisis as a security matter.
According to him, these incidents had occurred at Uzo-Uwani and Nsukka LGAs among the villagers and Fulani herdsmen but were resolved through the intervention of the state government adding that the present menace in Ugwuleshi Community will by the special grace of God be settled so that both parties will continue to live harmoniously.
Ugwuanyi stressed he was personally moved to visit the community to appeal for calm because his administration is doing everything possible to ensure that an enabling environment of peace is maintained in Enugu, as a measure of attracting investors into the state.
Enugu State Commissioner of Police, CP Nwodibo Ekechukwu, who accompanied Governor Ugwuanyi in the visit advised the community to avoid taking laws into their hand but report to security agencies at any point in time they found a group of cattle rearers grazing on their farm crops.
He assured the police must ensure such perpetrators are dealt with accordingly and prosecuted in the law court, to serve as a deterrent to others.
Earlier in his Speech, Hon. Toby Okechukwu, the House of Rep Chairman, Committee on Works, called on the National Assembly to pass into law, a policy creating restricted grazing area for herdsmen in various parts of the country, as measure of curtailing the constant clashes among wandering Fulani herdsmen and rural farmers in various parts of the country.
He explained the effects of climatic change resulting in desertification of various parts of Northern Nigeria and the Boko Haram threat in North East zone of the country is compelling the Fulani herdsmen to move further South with their cattle where there are abundant vegetation and that there is nothing anybody can do about it.
Further according to Okechukwu, to forestall emerging crisis with rural farmers in various communities, specific grounds should mapped out as grazing fields for the wandering Fulani herdsmen.
Many indigenes and political stakeholders of the community among whom are the transitional chairman of Awgu LGA, Hon Stanley Okeke, Hon Nelson Uduji, member representing Awgu South Constituency and Barrister Damian Ajah, commented on the efforts they have made to secure bail for the detained communities members were hampered by the Easter Holidays.
The traditional ruler of Ugwuleshi Community, Igwe Godwin Okosisi, on behalf of his cabinet commended Governor Ugwuanyi for making out time out of his busy schedule to come and identify with their pains.
He assured that the community will never take laws into their hands but toe the line of justice, in seeking for peaceful resolution of the crisis.
The Youth Leader of the community, Mr. Ugochukwu Okeke, stated in his address, "We are here because of Governor Ugwuanyi's visit. We are law abiding citizens."
Meanwhile, the Department of Public Prosecution Abia State, yesterday, said it was yet to receive the case file of the arrested 76 farmers from Ugwuleshi Autonomous Community in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
Their arrest followed a clash with Fulani herdsmen who illegally settled in the community about 10 years ago and were allegedly using their cattle to destroy the crops and farmlands of the natives.
The traditional ruler of the community, HRH Eze Godwin Nwobi had in an interview with our correspondent raised concern over the health condition of the arrested villagers who had remained in detention since their arrest.
He said that some of the villagers had swollen faces as a result of the beating they got from "the men in military uniform" before whisking them away to Umuahia.
But the Army Command in Abia State has denied any involvement in the operation dismissing the said "men in military uniform " as fake solders.
The Zone 9 Command of the Nigerian Police in Umuahia also denied any knowledge of the operation, thus, raising concern over the true identity of the said "men in military uniform".
Both Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra ( IPOB) have called for the investigation of the said fake solders and those behind the arrest of the locals since Awgu is not in Abia State.
He explained that if the magistrate court had transferred the case to the DPP on the grounds that it has no jurisdiction over the matter, police would bring the case file to the Ministry for study and proper analysis.
According to him, if after studying the case the DPP discovers that there is no case against the suspects, he will direct the magistrate court to discharge them but if they have a case, the matter will be transferred to the appropriate High Court.
Meanwhile, the question begging for answer is who arraigned the villagers before the magistrate court?'
When contacted, the Police Police Relations Officer ( PPRO), Mr. Udeviotu Onyeke said he was not aware of the matter but begged for more time to make inquiries.
He later confirmed that the State's Criminal Investigation Department was handling the matter, and promised to furnish our correspondent with details the next day after he must have been properly briefed.
IPOB's Ultimatum:
In a press statement co-signed Barrister Emma Nmezu and Dr. Clifford Chukwuemeka Iroanya, IPOB spokesmen, yesterday, the pro separatist group warned that the bold backing of marauding Fulani herdsmen using federal might can no longer be accepted by civilized society.
In their words: "The raw show of power and bravado by Fulani herdsmen at Umuneshi, Awgu Community of Enugu State just cannot be accepted by any civilized society.
"First, the ever recalcitrant Fulani marauders abducted two women on their way to the farm. All entreaties to release the two women fell on deaf ears. The youth of the community mobilized to free their women, but the Fulani warriors informed their kinsmen at the military bases in the neigbouring Abia State.
"The soldiers stormed the community, beat up and arrested all 76 youths, bundled them to Zone 9, ordered them charged and remanded in prison without as much as allowing them to make statements.
"As at today the 76 youth remain locked up, the two women remain missing as Fulani supremacy reigns supreme."
In an ultimatum, the stated:The IPOB is hereby giving president Muhamadu Buhari 72 hours beginning from 6pm, Tuesday 29th March 2016, to release the 76 youths of Umeneshi Community Awgu, together with the two women earlier abducted by the Fulani fighters.
Fulani flags flying over our ancestral land must also be removed within the same period failure of which the world will witness the first true FEEL of the anger of IPOB worldwide."
At the occasion, held at the Ugwuleshi Primary School field, in Awgu Local Government Area, Ugwuanyi promised to compensate the farmers whose farm crops were destroyed with the sum of N5 million but dished out the sum of N3.5 million on the spot for logistics aimed at securing the release of 76 members of the community being detained at a prison custody in Umuahia.
The 76 Awgu farmers are being detained on allegations of illegal possession of firearms in the aftermath of their clash with Fulani herdsmen.
The villagers were arrested on March 17 and dumped at the federal prison Afara Umuahia, the capital of Abia State, after they were arraigned in the magistrate court but denied bail.
Meanwhile, the Department of Public Prosecution Abia State, yesterday, said it was yet to receive the case file of the arrested the 76 farmers from Ugwuleshi Autonomous Community in Awgu LGA of Enugu State.
Still in another development, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), yesterday, issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the federal government to release the 76 detained Awgu farmers, including two village women abducted by the herdsmen or face the organisations local and international wrath.
Governor Uguwanyi who appealed for peaceful settlement of the fracas involving farmers in Ugwuleshi Autonomous Community and the Fulani herdsmen resident in the community that arose over alleged destruction of farm crops of the villagers by the herdsmen, released the money to the Awgu transitional chairman, Hon Stanley Okeke.
While commending the Ugwuleshi Community for the peaceful way they have conducted themselves since March 17, 2016, when their men and sons were taken to Umuahia, Ugwuanyi described the crisis as a security matter.
According to him, these incidents had occurred at Uzo-Uwani and Nsukka LGAs among the villagers and Fulani herdsmen but were resolved through the intervention of the state government adding that the present menace in Ugwuleshi Community will by the special grace of God be settled so that both parties will continue to live harmoniously.
Ugwuanyi stressed he was personally moved to visit the community to appeal for calm because his administration is doing everything possible to ensure that an enabling environment of peace is maintained in Enugu, as a measure of attracting investors into the state.
Enugu State Commissioner of Police, CP Nwodibo Ekechukwu, who accompanied Governor Ugwuanyi in the visit advised the community to avoid taking laws into their hand but report to security agencies at any point in time they found a group of cattle rearers grazing on their farm crops.
He assured the police must ensure such perpetrators are dealt with accordingly and prosecuted in the law court, to serve as a deterrent to others.
Earlier in his Speech, Hon. Toby Okechukwu, the House of Rep Chairman, Committee on Works, called on the National Assembly to pass into law, a policy creating restricted grazing area for herdsmen in various parts of the country, as measure of curtailing the constant clashes among wandering Fulani herdsmen and rural farmers in various parts of the country.
He explained the effects of climatic change resulting in desertification of various parts of Northern Nigeria and the Boko Haram threat in North East zone of the country is compelling the Fulani herdsmen to move further South with their cattle where there are abundant vegetation and that there is nothing anybody can do about it.
Further according to Okechukwu, to forestall emerging crisis with rural farmers in various communities, specific grounds should mapped out as grazing fields for the wandering Fulani herdsmen.
Many indigenes and political stakeholders of the community among whom are the transitional chairman of Awgu LGA, Hon Stanley Okeke, Hon Nelson Uduji, member representing Awgu South Constituency and Barrister Damian Ajah, commented on the efforts they have made to secure bail for the detained communities members were hampered by the Easter Holidays.
The traditional ruler of Ugwuleshi Community, Igwe Godwin Okosisi, on behalf of his cabinet commended Governor Ugwuanyi for making out time out of his busy schedule to come and identify with their pains.
He assured that the community will never take laws into their hands but toe the line of justice, in seeking for peaceful resolution of the crisis.
The Youth Leader of the community, Mr. Ugochukwu Okeke, stated in his address, "We are here because of Governor Ugwuanyi's visit. We are law abiding citizens."
Meanwhile, the Department of Public Prosecution Abia State, yesterday, said it was yet to receive the case file of the arrested 76 farmers from Ugwuleshi Autonomous Community in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
Their arrest followed a clash with Fulani herdsmen who illegally settled in the community about 10 years ago and were allegedly using their cattle to destroy the crops and farmlands of the natives.
The traditional ruler of the community, HRH Eze Godwin Nwobi had in an interview with our correspondent raised concern over the health condition of the arrested villagers who had remained in detention since their arrest.
He said that some of the villagers had swollen faces as a result of the beating they got from "the men in military uniform" before whisking them away to Umuahia.
But the Army Command in Abia State has denied any involvement in the operation dismissing the said "men in military uniform " as fake solders.
The Zone 9 Command of the Nigerian Police in Umuahia also denied any knowledge of the operation, thus, raising concern over the true identity of the said "men in military uniform".
Both Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra ( IPOB) have called for the investigation of the said fake solders and those behind the arrest of the locals since Awgu is not in Abia State.
He explained that if the magistrate court had transferred the case to the DPP on the grounds that it has no jurisdiction over the matter, police would bring the case file to the Ministry for study and proper analysis.
According to him, if after studying the case the DPP discovers that there is no case against the suspects, he will direct the magistrate court to discharge them but if they have a case, the matter will be transferred to the appropriate High Court.
Meanwhile, the question begging for answer is who arraigned the villagers before the magistrate court?'
When contacted, the Police Police Relations Officer ( PPRO), Mr. Udeviotu Onyeke said he was not aware of the matter but begged for more time to make inquiries.
He later confirmed that the State's Criminal Investigation Department was handling the matter, and promised to furnish our correspondent with details the next day after he must have been properly briefed.
IPOB's Ultimatum:
In a press statement co-signed Barrister Emma Nmezu and Dr. Clifford Chukwuemeka Iroanya, IPOB spokesmen, yesterday, the pro separatist group warned that the bold backing of marauding Fulani herdsmen using federal might can no longer be accepted by civilized society.
In their words: "The raw show of power and bravado by Fulani herdsmen at Umuneshi, Awgu Community of Enugu State just cannot be accepted by any civilized society.
"First, the ever recalcitrant Fulani marauders abducted two women on their way to the farm. All entreaties to release the two women fell on deaf ears. The youth of the community mobilized to free their women, but the Fulani warriors informed their kinsmen at the military bases in the neigbouring Abia State.
"The soldiers stormed the community, beat up and arrested all 76 youths, bundled them to Zone 9, ordered them charged and remanded in prison without as much as allowing them to make statements.
"As at today the 76 youth remain locked up, the two women remain missing as Fulani supremacy reigns supreme."
In an ultimatum, the stated:The IPOB is hereby giving president Muhamadu Buhari 72 hours beginning from 6pm, Tuesday 29th March 2016, to release the 76 youths of Umeneshi Community Awgu, together with the two women earlier abducted by the Fulani fighters.
Fulani flags flying over our ancestral land must also be removed within the same period failure of which the world will witness the first true FEEL of the anger of IPOB worldwide."
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