Nimbo Killings: Community seeks N17 billion compensation
Thu Jun 16, 2016 09:34:am National
3K By sosa hills
To ease the pains the people of Nimbo community suffered from the invasion and killings by Fulani herdsmen, the community in Uzo Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State have demanded a compensation of N17 billion from the Federal Government.
Their demand was presented by the traditional ruler of the community, Chief John Akor, when he appeared before the Commission of Inquiry set up by the state government to look into the marauding herdsmen's invasion of the town on April 25, 2016.
Akor said: "Our community demands a compensation of N17 billion for human loses, unlawful destruction of property and criminal deprivation of the use of our farms," he said.
The monarch said that his people also need a trauma hospital to rehabilitate victims of the prolonged herdsmen's incursions.
According to him, 11 people were killed by the herdsmen during the atack while several others were injured, adding that the corpses were still in the morgues.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that, "The conclusive evidence of deaths recorded during the incursion stands at 11. The economy of our community has been ruined.
"Part of our prayers is for a combined team of police, the Department of State Security (DSS) and the military to investigate why the invasion was not contained in spite of prior information to the effect. We equally request the Federal Government to establish security presence in Nimbo, being a border community," he said.
Akor further said that as a traditional ruler, he never collected any form of gratification from the herdsmen to allow them graze in Nimbo, lamenting that the economy of the rural community had been ruined by the activities of the herdsmen.
Similarly, the President-General of Nimbo Town Union, Mr. Mathias Ekere, told the probe panel that the community had coexisted peacefully with the herdsmen for over 30 years.
Ekere said that from the onset, different cattle breeders resided in their community and "our people insisted that each group must have an identification mark. When the arrangement of cattle identification was not working, the herdsmen had to relocate but came back in 2003.
"After they returned, our relationship with them became like that of cat and mouse. Our people are always intimidated because the herdsmen often come with sophisticated weapons, order farmers to kneel down and watch their cows graze on cash crops," he said.
He said that at their return, the herdsmen did not come with their wives and families, but entered the community through Kogi State.
Ekere said that from their experiences, members of the community were still in fear and would no longer want herdsmen in the area.
"Our men were traumatised as our wives were raped in our presence. From our soured relationship, we do not want them (herdsmen) again in our land. They should find another place to graze their cattle," Ekere said.
Prior to the commencement of the sitting, the commission's Chief Legal Officer, Mr. Richard Udeichi, announced that the Fulani community would present their case on June 27, 2016.
"The Fulani community informed me that they will come on June 27 due to their ongoing Ramadan," Mr. Udeichi said.
(NAN)
Their demand was presented by the traditional ruler of the community, Chief John Akor, when he appeared before the Commission of Inquiry set up by the state government to look into the marauding herdsmen's invasion of the town on April 25, 2016.
Akor said: "Our community demands a compensation of N17 billion for human loses, unlawful destruction of property and criminal deprivation of the use of our farms," he said.
The monarch said that his people also need a trauma hospital to rehabilitate victims of the prolonged herdsmen's incursions.
According to him, 11 people were killed by the herdsmen during the atack while several others were injured, adding that the corpses were still in the morgues.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that, "The conclusive evidence of deaths recorded during the incursion stands at 11. The economy of our community has been ruined.
"Part of our prayers is for a combined team of police, the Department of State Security (DSS) and the military to investigate why the invasion was not contained in spite of prior information to the effect. We equally request the Federal Government to establish security presence in Nimbo, being a border community," he said.
Akor further said that as a traditional ruler, he never collected any form of gratification from the herdsmen to allow them graze in Nimbo, lamenting that the economy of the rural community had been ruined by the activities of the herdsmen.
Similarly, the President-General of Nimbo Town Union, Mr. Mathias Ekere, told the probe panel that the community had coexisted peacefully with the herdsmen for over 30 years.
Ekere said that from the onset, different cattle breeders resided in their community and "our people insisted that each group must have an identification mark. When the arrangement of cattle identification was not working, the herdsmen had to relocate but came back in 2003.
"After they returned, our relationship with them became like that of cat and mouse. Our people are always intimidated because the herdsmen often come with sophisticated weapons, order farmers to kneel down and watch their cows graze on cash crops," he said.
He said that at their return, the herdsmen did not come with their wives and families, but entered the community through Kogi State.
Ekere said that from their experiences, members of the community were still in fear and would no longer want herdsmen in the area.
"Our men were traumatised as our wives were raped in our presence. From our soured relationship, we do not want them (herdsmen) again in our land. They should find another place to graze their cattle," Ekere said.
Prior to the commencement of the sitting, the commission's Chief Legal Officer, Mr. Richard Udeichi, announced that the Fulani community would present their case on June 27, 2016.
"The Fulani community informed me that they will come on June 27 due to their ongoing Ramadan," Mr. Udeichi said.
(NAN)
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