Tension in Anambra over alleged planned herdsmen attack

*As host community, Fulani herdsmen sign peace accord in Abia
By Anayo Okoli & Enyim Enyim

AWKA—There is tension in Anambra State following a report by the Department of State Services, DSS, on Wednesday, alleging that there was a planned attack on communities in the south east geopolitical zone.
A government official who pleaded anonymity told newsmen that the dreaded herdsmen were Tuesday spotted along Onitsha-Awka Expressway moving into Ukpo town in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State, adding that there was a heavy presence of the herdsmen within the boundary of Anambra, Imo and Abia states.
Contacted, the commissioner of police in Anambra, Mr Sam Okaula told Vanguard in a telephone interview that the command was well on alert to prevent any insurgence.
The commissioner who is the chairman of a committee set up by the state governor, tagged ‘cattle menace committee’ charged with the responsibility of resolving crisis between the Fulani herdsmen and their host communities in the state said the committee was meeting regularly to make sure that lives and property were protected in the state.
Reacting on the issue, the Special Adviser to Governor Willie Obiano on security, prevention and operations, Chief Chikodi Anarah told reporters that Anambra State government had before now, taken proactive measures aimed at averting any eventual attack.
“You know that before now, Governor Willie Obiano had set up ‘cattle menace committee’ headed by the police commissioner which has continued to yield positive results in the past.
“The committee is made up of seven traditional rulers and President Generalsof town unions that upon inauguration, reached an agreement with the Fulani herdsmen and the host communities on the amount that would be paid as compensation for lives, property and live stocks on both sides.
“This arrangement has been working till date and against this backdrop, we do not forsee any attack on Anambra State by the herdsmen.”
However, he urged residents in those areas to remain calm and go about their lawful activities without fears as both government and the committee were fully in charge and advised security operatives to be vigilant and report suspecting movements to the nearest police formation in the area.
Host community, Fulani herdsmen sign pact
Meantime, in Abia, stakeholders and leaders from communities hosting Fulani herdsmen in Abia State, yesterday, signed a peace accord to ensure that peace reign amongst them.
Hosted by the Abia State Police Commissioner, Mr. Leye Oyabade, the measure was a proactive step to forestall violent clashes between herdsmen and their host communities.
The accord was signed after a town hall meeting organized by the state committee on herdsmen and farmers’ conflict resolution headed by the Police Commissioner, at the Police Officers’ mess Umuahia.
Addressing the meeting attended by the Hausa/Fulani community, traditional rulers, town unions, women and youth groups, CP Oyebade, explained that the meeting became necessary as “the unity of this country is paramount and not negotiable.”
Oyebade also explained that the Abia State Government set up the committee to avoid the kind of violent clashes between herdsmen and host communities in some States in the country. He called on the parties to proffer solution that would lead to peaceful coexistence.
According to him, the committee has designed short, medium and long term resolution and urged the traditional rulers to carry their people along in negotiating with herdsmen.
The Police commissioner reminded all the parties that the constitution of Nigeria provides for peaceful co-existence and freedom of movement.
He said that “the herdsmen have the right to migrate to any part of the country but the law does not allow the destruction of another’s property/farm.
“The same way communities should not kill the cows in reprisal but should take the proper channel of conflict resolution, including dialogue and reporting to the security agencies.
“The issue of destroying of farms crops, killing of cows and poisoning of water which in most cases breed trouble is what we are trying to find a lasting solution to with the aim of avoiding unnecessary conflicts now or in the future”, Oyebade said.
In his remark, Governor Ikpeazu, represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Chief Ukpai Agwu Ukpai, said that the committee was set up to avoid any crisis between the farmers and herdsmen.
The State Director of State Service, Mr. Korede Kamoju, the Adviser on Security, Captain Awa Udensi [retd.], chairman of farmers association in the state, Mr. Dunlop Okoro, in their various remarks, said that there have always been peace among the farmers and the herdsmen until they started carrying arms and grazing in farms. He urged the traditional rulers not to compromise.
In his contribution, the leader of the Hausa group in the state, Alhaji Yaro Danladi said that he is not happy with the recent development between farmers and herdsmen in the state and called for a peacefulresolution at all times to avoid bloodshed and promised to have a meeting with herdsmen with a view to finding lasting solution.
The leader of Maiyatiala group, Hassan Buba said that herdsmen do not cause trouble, stressing that whenever there was trouble that such should be reported to their leader to enable him handle such issue.
“The herdsmen have their leader, trouble starts when they are not understood, if cows destroy farms the incident should be reported to their leader for proper handling instead of resorting retaliation which in most cases lead to crisis”, he said.