Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, yesterday, doled out N8.5 million as compensation to farmers of Ugwuleshi community in Awgu Local Government Area of the state where Fulani herdsmen had on March 15, destroyed farmlands and livestock worth millions of naira.
The incident led to the arrest of 76 members of the community who were arraigned at Umuahia, Abia State Magistrate’s Court on alleged arson and illegal possession of fire arms by the Police but were remanded in prison as the court declined jurisdiction over the matter.
This came on a day the member, representing Awgu/Aninri Federal Constituency at the National Assembly and House Committee Chairman on Works,Tobi Okechukwu appealed to the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency, establish grazing reserves across the country to nip incessant Fulani/farmers clash in the bud.
While addressing the aggrieved farmers of Ugwuleshi community, bearing placards with inscriptions that read, “Fulani herdsmen have killed us, Save us from persistent attacks from herdsmen, our means of livelihood has been destroyed,” Governor Ugwuanyi expressed dismay over the incident assuring them that his government will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them in their moment of grief.
“We are working round the clock to ensure the release of the 76 members of our community. As a government, we cannot be sleeping when you are crying. I salute the elders and other stakeholders who have ensured that peace reigned after the incident. These incidents have happened in Uzo-Uwani and Nsukka council areas and we contained it.
“I have come to stand by your side at this moment of grief that our people are detained in prison in far away Umuahia. I am part of the people detained in the prison and I feel your pulse. The farmers will get N8.5 million as compensation for being displaced. We will ensure that the 76 persons detained are released.” Vanguard
We can all see the hands that are supporting these murderous rampaging of the herdsmen comes from the federal govt.How can police come into a state and arrest 76 people without even pre-informing the chief security officer of the state? Someone needs to answer to that. And we should view this as a ethnic cleansing by the police. Same thing that they have been doing in Uzowani. The hausa fulani in the security organizations with active collaboration by timid accomplices are those supporting the festering sore.
Any peace established is a peace and silence of the graveyard.
The best peace is for communities across the state to stand up and boycott the fulani herdsmen’s commodities of blood. The govt for political reason might not say it but could surreptitiously encourage the boycott through town unions.
That is the only panacea. The killing and pillaging must end.