With rising uneasiness over the menace of Fulani herdsmen, and the aftermath of the Nimbo, Enugu State attack where suspected Fulani herdsmen killed over 48 people, Bakassi Boys, the unorthodox security outfit that once held sway in the South-East, is regrouping to fight the terror caused by the rampaging herdsmen.
The Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) is also reaching out to other groups across the five states in the geo-political zone to form a united front against further onslaughts by killer herdsmen.
The various state governments in the zone have similarly been mapping out their own plans to avoid a re-enactment of the Enugu State massacre.
It was gathered in Awka that leaders of the Bakassi Boys have been meeting in Abia, Imo, Anambra and Ebonyi on how to defend the states from further attacks by killer herdsmen.
A top member of the group who did not want his name mentioned, said never again would anyone or group be allowed to terrorize the zone ‘for no just cause’.
Speaking in the same vein, a MASSOB leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu, said the movement was reaching out to other Igbo groups on the matter.
“There is need for Ndigbo to form a synergy on this issue,” he said.
“We have started making consultations. This is not an issue MASSOB and other positive groups in Igboland will leave for the governors and policemen to decide.
“The groups we are talking about are not ones that find favour on the pages of newspapers, but groups that have the interests of our people at heart like MASSOB,” Madu said.
Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State met on Thursday night with traditional rulers in the state on how to forestall a repeat of the Enugu mayhem in Anambra.
The governor told the gathering that government was already monitoring closely suspicious movements in some parts of the state.
He said government was working in concert with the security agencies in this regard and assured residents of safety of their lives and property.
He said that where the options available to government fail, the state is ready to defend the people, but he was quick to add that “we do not want it to get to that point.”
He said: “We do not want anything to destroy the beautiful relationship that has existed between Igbo and Fulani and other Nigerians. We want Anambra to be a shining example and that is why we are the light of the nation.
“What we intend to do is to send the Fulani that are living with us here to go and meet with the Fulani in that area with a view to finding out whether they are coming in peace or otherwise.
”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 any herdsmen with AK47, report them early to the police so that they can be picked up.”
The chairman of the South East zone of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Siddiki Gidado, commended the governor for convening the meeting and stressed the need to entrench in the psyche of the herdsmen and their host communities the code of healthy engagement.
His words: “I must confess that life out there in the jungle where our people breed their cattle is rough and this is often compounded by either some acts of carelessness by some herdsmen or sheer acts of suspicion from natives who might not be hospitable to the herdsmen traversing their physical space.
“Neither of the issues can be adjudged insurmountable. It only demands constructive commitment from the governments and other concerned groups who would deconstruct the underlying hate mind-set and create a healthy room for mutual trust amidst diverse business interests”
“The code of healthy engagements must be entrenched in the psyche of the herdsmen and their landlords wherever they are found.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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I am Yoruba but I support my Igbo brothers on this. How can a lunatic called Fulani herdsman invade someone's farm and still kill him because he complained. This is insanity of the highest order. This must be stopped now!!!
ReplyDeleteGood development defend ur territory
ReplyDeleteGood in all ramifications since the government security apparatus has failed to protect us.We will take our collective destiny in our hands.
ReplyDeleteIt will be good if peoeple understand the mode of operations of the Fulani clan. Usually the fulani living amongst you may not be the ones that will kill you. but when there is a conflict between you and the fulanis living with you, they go and invite killer mercenaries from other settlement who come disguised to study the environment while at the same time the actual residents relocate temporarily out of the vicinity to other parts, when the relocation is complete, then they are ready to strike with fierceness. so next time you see or observe fulanis relocate out of a community in trickle or in droves , understand that something sinister is about to happen. stay alert
ReplyDeleteNna get out there nd kill somebody! Defend ur teritory jor! Heard d governor got there and was cryin..as in what d heck was dat!
ReplyDeleteI am a yoruba man as well and I have always been against the biafran movement because I believe in one nigeria.I fully support this.Infact i support them shooting any herders they find with arms on sight.A visitor cannot come to my house with firearm when he is neither a police officer or an army officer.Inlight of all the atrocities this people have been committing all over the country,i will even suggest they should not be allowed into the state.Let them stay in the north.A lion cannot all of a sudden be compelled to be friends with an antelope and not attempt to eat it.This is not a tribal thing but this bastards have a propensity for violence and they should not be allowed into neighboring state.If they can demonstrate that they can live in peace with d farmers in their native communities,then we should be able to welcome them.BUt while they are still killing farmers all over d place in d north,we should not allow them to export it into other territories.THey should be sent back with emphatic message in body bags.i dislike fayose,but I love his response to the potential conflict from d helder.I however question his approach about poisoning the water as that might have a collateral effect as well
ReplyDeleteEverything seems to be going from bad to worse. The police not doing their jobs, citizens now protecting themselves. We no longer have Nigerians but hausa, Yorubas and Igbo. We need to accept it, we are failing as a nation and a people. People need to demand performance and accountability.
ReplyDeleteI am Yoruba too, and I support the Agatu, Enugu, Ibadan, Onisha, Calaba, Ekiti, Ore, Bayelsa, Lokoja, Adamawa, Kaduna and all other territories that plan self defense.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back B-Boys!
ReplyDelete