Dan Opara
Some group of Fulani Herdsmen invaded Agwa Community in Oguta LGA, killing one man and injuring many others sustained injuries.
Following to that killing at Agwa, an emergency security stakeholders meeting that was convened attracted some members of the DSS, the DPO of Oguta Divisional Police Command, the Military Command, the Captain in charge of Agwa, Lt.Olamide, the Head of Operation Search and Flush in Oguta, Village President Generals, Vigilant Groups, Youth Leaders, Civil Society groups and representatives of the leadership of Miyetti Allah(the Apex body of Herders in the country).
The meeting was chaired by the Imo State House of Assemblymember representing Oguta State Constituency, Hon.Barr.Frank Ugboma, who in his words condemned the killing by the Herdsmen, even convened the message of warning to the unlawful killing of an innocent old man to the leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) Imo State Chapter.
Alhaji Sariki who came down from Kaduna to Imo State immediately he was informed of the ongoing crises in Oguta pleaded with the community to be calm as everything will be put under control.
Hon. Frank Ugboma who summoned the leadership of the group including the Chairman of the Hausa Community in Imo State, furthermore expressed sadness over such a flagitious act perpetrated by the Herdsmen in Agwa Community of Oguta LGA.
He expressed bitterness over the unholy incident which claimed the life of one of the highly peaceful village heads of Agwa Community.
He further demanded for immediate solutions to stem any future re-occurrence.
The Honorable member noted with dismay, the activities of the Fulani herdsmen which has now thrown so many communities in Oguta into chaos and untold hardship as the destruction of their farm produce has remained unabated.
Addressing the audience, the Honourable member commended the swift intervention of the policemen at Divisional Police Command in Oguta LGA.
He asserted that their quick intervention was what averted bloodshed and loss of lives which could have thrown the community into an unquantifiable inferno.
He noted that his top priority is not about one’s party beliefs nor acceptance but what matters at the moment is the life and well-being of Ogutans which he swore to protect within his capacity.
In reaction to the issue on ground, the DPO Oguta Divisional Police Headquarters expressed his happiness over how the community accepted the plea not to take laws into their hands for peace and orderliness as the situation was immediately put under control.
He once again assured them that the Oguta Divisional Police Command will do everything humanly right to make sure that peace is restored in the community by communicating with the appropriate quarters.
He reinstated his resolve to restore peace between the Hausa people in the Community and their host communities.
The Community members in reactions frowned over how the herders brandish weapons such as AK47 riffles and destruction of their farmlands.
They expressed worries over what the intentions of those herdsmen could be if not to kill anyone on their way which seems to be the sole reason they go around the communities with guns instead of sticks herders are ordinarily known with.
The leadership of the group (MACBAN) Alhaji Sariki after hearing from the community pleaded with them to forgive his boys and stated his regret over the death of the Community leader.
“We are here to change the narrative which many people have absorbed which seems to have placed cows and crops above human lives in our Country today, cows and farm produce could be bought or replaced but not human lives. It can never be restored once snuffed out.
I am deeply sorry about what transpired between our boys and the Agwa community here in Oguta. That would have been an avoidable mistake if the herders were careful as expected of them.
I have been here for many years, my grandfather was here including my father and we all have been residing here peacefully in the State,
We are deeply sorry and I will communicate the outcome of this meeting with the national body of our group to help act fast in restoring the friendship and peace that has existed between us and this Community before now.
To the family of the bereaved, we are deeply sorry and we share in your pains over the loss of your beloved one, God willing we shall see to that as to assuage and restore peace to this Community.”
The Chairman of the Hausa Community in Imo lauded the peaceful way in which the Community conducted themselves and didn’t embark on a reprisal attack which may result in the loss of other innocent lives.
Hon Ugboma who thanked everyone in attendance reaffirmed his commitment to protecting the lives and properties of his constituents.
In his closing remarks, he pleaded with the family of the bereaved and the community entirely and advised that it’s time to place the peace of the Local Government above personal grievances as he instructed the leadership of the group to go and re-orientate their boys over the worth of lives and how to conduct themselves peacefully in any Community they find themselves as he won’t be happy if such thing reoccurs in the LGA as the life of his constituents are his top priority.
Barr. Frank pleaded with everyone to keep calm as the situation is being managed perfectly and that the state government would intervene over the unfortunate incident and that the government considers the protection of lives and properties of Imo people a top priority.
