Boko Haram Alarm :Unknown Herdsmen Have Entered Anambra, Says Hausa Community

                         

odogwuemekaodogwu.com reports that the leadership of Hausa/Fulani community in Anambra State has raised an alarm over the infiltration of what they describe as unknown cattle herdsmen from outside the state, especially Kogi and Enugu states who they accuse of destroying crops and farmlands in both Enugu and Anambra States. 

The alarm has prompted Gov Willie Obiano to move for the setting up of a peace committee to coordinate activities of genuine cattle herdsmen to ensure the maintenance of harmonious existence between them and their host communities, Jude Atupulazi reports.

Fears have been expressed recently in parts of Anambra concerning the arrest of 486 suspected terrorists in Abia State among who was a terrorist on the wanted list of security operatives.

But not leaving anything to chance Governor Obiano has waded in to create an atmosphere of peace, understanding and harmonious co-existence by holding a meeting with representatives of the Hausa-Fulani community, chairmen of local government councils, some traditional rulers and presidents-general of communities affected by the activities of the herdsmen and security operatives at the Women's Development Centre Awka over the previous weekend.

Addressing the Hausa/Fulani community and local government chairman and some traditional rulers at the meeting, Governor Obiano said that the committee he would set up would include representatives of the Hausa-Fulani communities, traditional rulers and presidents-general of the affected communities as well as representatives of the police, among others.

He said that the committee would among other things ensure that herdsmen were restricted to areas mapped for grazing to avoid the repeat of the recent incident at Omasi community in Ayamelum Local Government Area which resulted in the killing of innocent people and destruction of two farms by herdsmen.

While assuring them of security of their life and property, the governor called for vigilance and security consciousness, urging them to report suspicious situations and strange characters promptly to the nearest police and other security agents. He
enjoined them to register with the Divisional Police Officer of their area of
residence to provide the police with necessary data to protect them and their
property.

The leader of Hausa/Fulani community in the state, Mallam Gidado Siddiki in his address raised an alarm that unknown cattle herdsmen were believed to be infiltrating the state from either Kogi or Enugu states and destroying crops and farmlands in Awka, 9^th Mile, Ayamelum and Anambra West local government areas of the state.

Mallam Siddiki requested the governor to continue the on-going cattle market project, noting that when completed, it would help to boost the state's internally-generated revenue.

Earlier, the special adviser to the governor on security matters, Hon. Chukwudi Anara said the governor initiated the meeting to further entrench peaceful co-existence, among all residents of the state.

The chairman of Oyi Local Government Council, Mr. Uchenna Okafor said the meeting would help promote understanding and streamline the activities of herdsmen.

In their contributions, the leader
of Hausa community in Onitsha, Alhaji Ilyasu Yushau and his Awka counterpart,
Alhaji Garba Haruna thanked the governor for giving them a sense of belonging
and commended what they described as his remarkable achievements and including
putting a new security network in place.

Fides gathered that in response
to the growing fear of terrorist attack in the south east Gov Obiano has
deployed anti-terrorist police squads to the major roads in the state. They are
identified by their black uniforms and red berets.

First published in Fides