Herder–farmer conflicts in Nigeria are a series of disputes over arable land resources across Nigeria between the mostly-Muslim Fulani herders and the mostly-Christian non-Fulani farmers.
The conflicts have been especially prominent in the Middle Belt (North Central) since the return of democracy in 1999. But regrettedly, such herders attack continued trunking into the southern part of Nigeria and prominently domiciled in the south East region.
Recent attacks have been reported by series of Newspapers, radio, television Houses and social media, online blogs but the attacks have degenerated to killing of innocent citizens in their farmlands and forests.
These herders have also resorted in serious kangaroo shady deals demanding huge ransome from their abducted innocent citizens within the areas mentioned in this News. Several abductions and killings are reported on daily basis across the states , all pointing hands on Fulani herders attack.
Recently, the people of Owerri West in Imo state Nigeria was attacked by same herders and the communities affected have called on the Government of Imo state under His Excellency Governor Hope Uzodinma to come to their rescue and save their lives in the area from herder’s attack which has continued to linger after several efforts to stop them had proved abortive.
The call came from groups of concerned residents and indigene of Avu, Obinze, Oforola, Nekede and Ihiagwa following the killings, harassment and abductions allegedly going on in the area as gathered by 9News Nigeria.
The communities are pointing hands and challenging the Federal University of Technology FUTO, Prisons community, the Military Base, Police, DSS and Imo State government for remaining calm over the attacks hoodlums have launched in the area.
Government is expected to delve into serious action to settle lingering land matters between FUTO and land owners to release the lands back to the actual owners and mandate developers to open up the forests.
The forests within the Prison facility Avu, FUTO acclaimed land under dispute for years are the hiding places of these criminals as 9News Nigeria reports.
The military command, 34Artilery Obinze cannot be domiciled in the area and such Criminal activities will keep increasing on daily basis. Why are the military keeping quite while the Hunters security is at work fishing out dead bodies from various forests allegedly killed by the herders?
Though research has proved that certain Communities that are housing military base are prone to a lot of infiltrators, intimidations to the host communities and high crime prone, the 34Artilery brigade Obinze and that of the Air force base coupled with the Police commands cited in these troubled areas are expected to provide maximum security and protection of lives and properties.
The Prison command in Owerri should as a matter of urgency develop the land allotted to them and not to permit herders to use their premises to perpetuate crime.
9News Nigeria authoritatively reports that behind their recently fixed permanent building are huge expanse of land which serve as a hidden abode to the herders. Also the thick forest in contest covers Ihiagwa, Obinze, Avu and Nekede family lands as encumbered.
At a visit of our team of correspondents to the prison facility along Avu PortHarcourt road and that of the Police Headquarters in the area, these areas have remained bushy and the herders have illegally acquired the lands where they claim rearing their cows and have kept increasing on daily basis.
Precisely behind the Prison command is now known as Fulani base. The forests in the area has become their rest home which they have occupied illegally and government is not doing anything to stop them from occupying Imo lands illegally.
Investigation has also revealed another disturbing height of intimidation by this same Hausa/Fulani residents in Owerri. At any little rift with the residents, or even those driving okadas, these crops of Fulani riders will call their confidants or alleged sponsors from the military and air force base to attack Imolites unnecessarily.
Their brother officers have continued to protect them and bully the people in their favor as gathered by Newsmen. So the people are now living in fear and drastic insecurity.
It is important for the government of Imo state to do same as Abia state Governor His Excellency Alex Otti did to demolish crime areas in the state.
The Youths and Traditional Rulers in the affected Communities in Imo state are expected to talk with the government to hasten actions before the insecurity gets out of hand and become uncontrollable.
Our findings proved that the Women in these communities are no longer safe in their farmlands. The landowners are not happy with FUTO community for putting their ancestral forests in a danger situation without instituting an alternative dispute resolution measure ADR to resolve through proper acquisition, compensation, settlement, allocation of the lands and advertisement for speedy development. 9News Nigeria Owerri reports.
Investigation reveals that most criminals operate mainly from the forests zones and creeks, low residential locations, Hotels, brothels and uncompleted buildings while the other lower percentage of criminals are externally engaged by their cohorts.
Since the security architecture is porous to monitor, capture and patrol these troubled areas, Owerri West, Ngor Okpala, Umuokani, Egbu and it’s environs are seriously on the run for the fear of the unknown and possible attack by herders.
It is obvious that the residents of Nekede, Avu, Obinze, Ihiagwa and it’s environs are on the run following the rolls of death bodies that littered their forests.
Dead Bodies, Human skeletons, wears, wrappers, shoes, jewelries and other items that were snatched from people was exposed recently by the operatives of Hunters and Security Service Imo State Command. And their exposition of their findings attracted the attention of the Imo state police command .
9News Nigeria have reported that the Hunters combed the forests within Nekede, Avu Obinze, Oforola, Ihiagwa and Nekede axis at a tip off of continued attack by suspected unknown gunmen where the above items were discovered.
Few days later, another young man escaped death in the hands of these hoodlums having sustained a high degree of axe and machete cut within the Umuezerokam Nekede. The evidences are in the public domain for confirmation.
Recall that Governor Otti of Abia State, delved into a serious action and through thorough investigations and security intelligence, the popular Lokpanta Market was demolished.
Since his inception, Governor Otti has not left any stone unturned in the fight against insecurity in Abia state Nigeria. The governor has continued to enforce governing laws and actions that have drastically reduced crime in Abia state.
Edo State Nigeria have also improved on their security intelligence placing drones at various locations to monitor daily activities. This step is commendable.
The people of Imo State Nigeria are calling on the Shared Prosperity Government to as a matter of 🆘 to come to the rescue of Ndi Avu, Obinze, Oforola, Umuokani, Nekede and Ihiagwa communities to avert perceived looming danger emanating from Fulani herders planned attack in these areas mentioned by 9News Nigeria.
A renowned leader in Imo state who pleaded anonymous with our correspondent noted with dismay the uprising that beclouds such attack on residents. He however added that if FUTO Prisons, DSS and 3R Government cannot act speedily to check this abnormalities and talk with the FUTO management to open up the forests for immediate development, these areas will record the highest troubled zone in Imo state.
Another clergy in the area added that following the continued attack by herders in these areas, these herders and unknown gunmen are raking the areas to give the communities a dangerous hit.
“Similar incident he said has happened in many troubled areas where insecurity is high. “The herders are sending signals and experimenting the area, afterwhich they will strike. That is how it starts, the clergy hinted.
Several calls to the Sarakin Hausa of Imo state and that of the head of Fulani herders did not go through at the time of filling this report by 9News Nigeria.
But the commissioner of police Imo state command has swung into action even as his team from information that was made available to Newsmen has it that owing to the incessant criminal activities of armed Fulani hoodlums lurking in forests and roads in Owerri West LGA, particularly around Ihiagwa, Okolochi, Eziobodo, Nekede and it’s environs, a police tactical team will be set up by the State Commissioner of police today, Monday 19th February, 2024.
The State Police boss shall also on arrival, approve a police check – point at a designated place along the affected area. This is to beef up security and guarantee a rapid response to security concerns in the area.
Therefore, Ndi Ezes, PGs, Political leaders, Women and Youths’ leaders of the affected communities are expected to grace the occasion scheduled to commence by today Monday 19-02-2024 as scheduled.
Our team of investigative reporters are in touch to establish contacts with those that matters in this regard to feed our esteemed readers with the development.
-Princely Onyenwe reporting
For inquiries on this news contact 9News Nigeria @08036856526
