Herdsmen menace: Obiano raises alarm over suspicious movements

FOLLOWING the grow­ing attack by Fulani herds­men on agrarian communi­ties in the South East and North Central zones of the country, the governor of Anambra State, Chief Wil­lie Obiano has convened a tripartite meeting between leaders of the Fulani com­munity in the state, the tra­ditional rulers of agrarian communities and the state government to fashion out a proactive response to the menace.

Addressing the gathering Thursday at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, Governor Obiano revealed that there were suspicious movements in some parts of the state that were being carefully moni­tored to ensure that there was no immediate threat to the security of the state.

“What we intend to do is to send the Fulanis who are living with us here to go meet with the Fulanis in that area with a view to finding out whether they are coming in peace or otherwise. More importantly, we want Fula­nis in this committee to tell the members of this commit­tee if their people are nursing any grievance in whatever form,” Governor Obiano ex­plained and further pointed out that early in the life of his administration he had set up a special committee to nurture mutually beneficial relations between the Hausa/ Fulani Community in the state and their hosts.

“I don’t want anybody to take laws into his hands. That is why we set up this committee and we have agreed that compensation should be paid for losses on either side. That is the way to co-exist in a multi-ethnic and diverse society. More impor­tantly, we agreed at the Se­curity Council Meeting that we will not allow herdsmen to carry arms. That is a clear directive from Abuja. Herds­men are not supposed to bear arms. Please, if you see herdsmen with AK47, report them early to the police so that they can be picked up, ”Governor Obiano advised.

Speaking further, the gov­ernor recalled that Fulani herdsmen used to be known with their long sticks and daggers which they wielded to protect their cows. “But these Fulani herdsmen that carry AK47 riffles are wor­risome. We don’t want what happened in Enugu to hap­pen here.

But if the three options we are proposing fail, we are ready to defend ourselves. But we don’t want it to get to that point. We don’t want anything to destroy the beau­tiful relationship that has existed between Igbos and Fulanis and other Nigerian tribes. We want Anambra to be a shining example,” he declared.

“I want to once more as­sure that the lives of Fulanis, the Hausas and other non-indigenes in Anambra State are secured. We shall protect you. Nothing will happen to you in Anambra State,” Governor Obiano assured.

Also speaking, the Chair­man of the South East Zone of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Siddiki Gi­dado commended Governor Obiano for convening such a crucial meeting at a very trying time in the nation’s history.