Ikpeazu Orders Immediate Sack Of Fulaní Herdsmen From Umunneochi Forest

By Charles Igbo

Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has ordered all herdsmen in Umunneochi forest to vacate immediately.

The Governor’s order follows the continuous protests by Umunneochi youths over the incessant kidnappings in the area.

Following the embarrassing abduction of the Prelate of the Methodist Church in Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr Samuel Uche Kanu, Sunday, May 30, 2022, on his way to the Owerri Airport to take a flight back to Lagos after a pastoral  visit to Isuochi, the youths blocked the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway in protest.

His Eminence was abducted along with the Bishop of Owerri Diocese, Dennis Mark, and the Prelate’s Chaplain.

The sum of N100m was paid in ransom money before they were released in the evening of May 31.

Prelate Uche, a native of the area had alleged, at a Press Conference in Lagos, that their abductors  were eight Fulani herdsmen who he identified as Nationals of Mali, Somalia and Niger. He said they had about 200 herds of  cattle in the bush.

In a Press release signed by the Commissioner for Information, Abia State, Barr. Eze Chikamnayo, Ikpeazu ordered  all Herdsmen in Umunneochi out of the forests.

According to the statement, the Governor restricted them to the Cattle market at Umuchieze pending a final decision on the menace of the Cattle market.

The statement reads in full:

*Consequent upon the fact- finding visit of the Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu  to the scenes of incessant Kidnappings and killings in Umunneochi LGA of Abia State;

“Arising from the extensive interactive sessions which His Excellency Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu has been having with Umunneochi Leaders, Stakeholders and Security Agencies;

“His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Abia State Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu hereby directs as follows:

“1.That the Commissioner of Police Abia State alongside with Umunneochi Youths provide immediate Security along the Ihube to Isuochi Road stretching from Ngodo through Lomara Junction all the Way to Ihube.

“2. Upon the implementation of the above directive The Governor directs the Chairmen of Umunneochi LGA, Chief Ifeanyi Madu to open the Road leading from Ihube through Lomara Junction to Ngodo Isuochi immediately.

“3.The Commissioner of Police, Abia State has been mandated to draw up logistic requirements for mounting six additional check points at strategic locations across Umunneochi LGA.

“4.Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu hereby directs that all settlers , herders and individuals residing inside the forests around Umunneochi LGA to vacate such locations with immediate effect.

“Government can no longer guarantee the safety of any person or group found to be residing in the forests around Umunneochi LGA.

“5. All cows and herders around Umunneochi LGA are hereby restricted strictly to the Cattle Market located at Umuchieze until a final decision is reached concerning the menace in the Cattle Market.

“6. The Leadership of the Youths of Umunneochi LGA Vigilante Groups, Hunters and the Hausa Community will continue to meet with the Governor until an amicable solution is found to the incessant cases of Insecurity in the Area.

“7. His Excellency, Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu urges all parties to show restraint and circumspection in their utterances and actions in order to maintain the peace and promote peaceful coexistence of all law abiding citizens.”

It is not known yet if the Governor’s action will assuage the anger of the youths who are also demanding for the relocation of the Cattle market at Lokpanta and the Military Barracks at Lomara.

They, as well as Prelate Uche, accuse the Soldiers in the area of complicity in the abductions.

The Army Spokesperson, Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement, vehemently denied the allegation.