Boko Haram: Obiano Wades In As Hausa Community Raises Alarm Of Infiltration Of Unknown Herdsmen

In a bid to ensure effective maintenance of harmonious co-existence, peace and understanding between natives and residents in Anambra State, the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano is on the track to set up a Committee to coordinate activities of genuine cattle herdsmen and their host communities. This came as the leadership of Hausa/Fulani community in Anambra State, raised an alarm of infiltration by unknown cattle herdsmen from outside the state, especially Kogi and Enugu States who they accused of destroying crops and farmlands in both Enugu and Anambra States.

Fears has been expressed recently in parts of Anambra concerning the arrest of 486 suspected terrorists in Abia State among who is a terrorist on the wanted list of security operatives. Not leaving anything to chance, the Governor Obiano, has waded in to create an atmosphere of peace, understanding and harmonious co-existence when he held a meeting with representatives of Hausa-Fulani community, Chairmen of Local Government Councils, some traditional rulers and President-Generals of communities affected by the activities of the hersmen and security operatives at the Women Development Centre Awka over the weekend.

Addressing the Hausa/Fulani community and Local Government Chairman and some traditional rulers at the meeting, Governor Obiano said that the Committee he will 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 will among other things, ensure that herdsmen are restricted to areas mapped for grazing to avoid the repeat of recent incident at Omasi community in Ayamelum Local Government Area that resulted in the killing of innocent farmers and destruction of two farms by herdsmen.

While assuring them of security of their lives and property, the governor called for vigilance and security consciousness, urging them to report suspicious situation 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 residents to provide the police with necessary data to protect them and their properties.

The Leader of Hausa/Fulani Community in the State, Mallam Gidado Siddiki in his address raised an alarm that unknown cattle herdsmen were allegedly coming into the State from either Kogi or Enugu State and destroying crops and farmland in Awka, 9th 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 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 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 his remarkable achievements and in putting new security network in place.