A cross-section of participants of the peace accord.
By Johnkennedy Uzoma,
Owerri
A truce may have been reached over missing cows between the three communities –Amasa, Uchulu and Ohekelem – of Ngor Okpala council of Imo State, the Chairman of Mayetti Allah in the state; and the Fulani herdsmen.
Both parties have resolved to live peacefully at Umuneke, the headquarters of Ngor Okpala council a forthnight ago.
They also agreed on payment of monitory compensation to the Fulani cattle rearers for their missing cows.
In her address, the Chairman of Ngor Okpala Council, Mrs. Chika Ibekwe, who convened the meeting, recalled the genesis of the clash between the feuding groups in the council, while appealing to them to live in peace.
She urged every leader and president general of the communities to put their heads and ideas together to find the best way to tackle the matter to ensure a lasting peace in the areas.
Also, the Chairman, Miyetti Allah (association of cattle rearers) in Imo State, Muhammad Shuibu, during the meeting lamented that the herders lost 11 cows during the recent clash.
He said that among the lost cows two were a year old, while nine others were older.
He said that each of the older cows cost N1 million, while the other two younger ones stood at N500,000 each.
Shuibu, however, commended the Chairman of Ngor Okpala Local Government Area for her intervention to ensure peaceful resolution of the matter, pointing out that the owner of the cows had nothing left except the cows, while appealing for solutions.
The Fulani herdesmen who spoke through the Special Adviser (SA) Hon Sulieman Ibrahim Sulieman gave an account of the incident.
He said that someone brought cows from Abia State on that faithful night and they decided to pack on the road not aware of any information of how their cows entered into the communities.
He said that when the incident occured, they called the Amaasa Commander, Mr. Bright Benjamin, who had travelled to Aba to inform him about the incident and that their cows were killed.
The Commander immediately called the DPO to inform him about the situation adding that the information made the DPO to send out his men to the scene of the incident.
He said that there was shooting after they met two vegelante groups who later left, adding that at that moment, they ran way, leaving their cows for their safety.
According to him, when they returned, the shooting continued and that made them to scamper for their lives and later on called on the DPO about their missing cows but were told to go and search for them, assuring that he had spoken to the villegers.
Presenting his account, the Amaasa Vigellante Commander, Mr. Bright Benjamin, said that the incident happened arround 1:AM, when he saw a vehicle packed on the road, he ordered his men to soround the vehicle.
He said that after long argument, the Fulani cattle rearers called somebody that wanted to buy cow but he said that they would not allow that on the reason that it was an odd hours.
His words: “I asked them to call their Oga [master] and after which they told him to allow them.”
On the killing of cows, Benjamin said that he only heard from the cattle rearers on telephone conversation when they said two cows were killed inside the premeses of Arab Contractor Company, while one was killed across the road.
He said that he did not see it, stressing that he was surprised to hear that many cows were killed.
He further disclosed that some cows ran to Umuda villege, a situation whivh warranted the entire communities to move into the said bush to search for the missing cows.
In his address, the Traditional Ruler of Amaasa Autonomous Community, Eze Obinna Ezeako, expressed regret; but called for solutions to the problem.
He said that cows were no problem, while lamenting the incident.
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He assured that he was ready for the solution, while assuring his readiness to ensure peace among the feuding parties.
The Special Adviser to the Governor of Northern Affairs, Hon Sulieman Ibrahim Sulieman, gave kudos to the chairman of the LGA for the effort to ensure that the matter was amicably resolved.
He assured that what happened would not repeat, while calling on everyone to join hands with the security personnel to ensure peace in the area.
He commended Governor Hope Uzodimma for his commitment in making sure that there is absulute peace in all communities in the state including Ngor Okpala.
The SA said that giving who the Fulani are, Imo State will not allow what is happening in some states in the North to happen in any part of Imo State, while urging the Fulani to be peaceful especially among the communities they are operating and avoid trouble with anybody.
Present at the meeting include the Executive Chairman Ngor Okpala LGA, Mrs Chika Ibekwe; Traditional Ruler of Amaasa Autonomous Community, Eze Obinna Ezeako; President General of Ohakelem Autonomous Community, Chief MacDonald Enwere; the President General of Uchulu Community, Mr. Charlse Eke; President General Raymond Anyanwu; the Commander Amaasa Autonomous Community, Mr. Bright Benjamin; SP Ezenwanwe Nonso ThankGod (DPO) Ngor Okpala Police Division Ununeke, Chairman Mayetti Allah Imo State, Muhammad Shuibu, Special Adviser to the Governor on Northern Affairs Hon. Sulieman Ibrahim Sulieman and six Fulani herders.
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