03072019 - Buhari's Ruga policy, an explosive issue — SOYINKA

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28 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2019 VOL. 2 NO. 51 WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2019 Govt, villagers differ on herdsmen chased away from Enugu community By Dennis Agbo ENUGU- EVER since the video went viral, tongues have been wagging on whether the Fulani herdsmen were actually chased away from Agbada-Nnenwe community or not. The video which has trended since Saturday June 29 showed how Fulani herdsmen with large number of cows were guarded out of Nnenwe community in Aninri local government area of Enugu state. Not long after the video circulated than the Nigeria police in Enugu denied that the video was real. According to the police spokesman in Enugu, Ebere Amaraizu, such situation never existed in the state, narrating that the herdsmen only came from Cross River state. The police statement brought more curiosity to the development, a situation that made some native of Agbada-Nnenwe to declare the police statement as false, noting that By Chinonso Alozie, Owerr i Following recent events Southeast voice conducted an investigation in Owerri, based on the incidences and discovered that those in the dastard act have seen Imo state as a fertile ground for such business. It has been observed that child trafficking syndicate arrested and paraded by the Imo police, in most cases while the buyers are said not be residents of Imo state but the sellers have been identified as natives of Imo state. By report, the worse of it is that even those from other states who have children to sell move them into Imo state looking for prospective buyers. Another urgly part of the story, is that young ladies about to deliver their unborn babies, willing to sell them also are being relocated to the state, by the child syndicate group, as a safe heaven untill the time comes for her to deliver. This is as they also use maids and nannies in diffrent homes to monitor and identify young ladies interested in doing the child trafficking business. Apart from that, they also woo some of them into accepting to sell their babies with an irresistible offer that would change their lives out of poverty. Southeast Voice also gathered that sells girls at different eatries, restaurants, beer palours, vulnerable ones have become daily victims of this child trafficking syndicate with a promise to make their lives more better. One of such cases, is that of a native of Cameroon, Queen Imoh, suspected to have stolen a 6-yearold boy From Nassarawa area of Kadunna state, she travelled such a distance to Imo state, to sell a six year old boy. This child was later recovered. Also, one Immaculata Edward, a native of Cross River state, said to have abducted five children from Ngor Okpala local government area, and alongside with other •Cabinet members of Nenwe. the herdsmen actually came from the direction of Enugu before they were turned back and disallowed from marauding their cultivated farms. According to 70 years old native of the community, Mazi Albert Ugwueke, “What took place in our community on Saturday was that as we were waking up in the morning, we saw a sea of cows passing through our place, the cattle were suspects took their victims to Abia state, to sell them however, they children were rescued. In another shocking incident, a six hour old baby was sold for N800,000 just after delivery at a hospital in Nekede, Owerri West local government area, The name of the mother of the baby a 23—year-old woman, was given as Chinenye Oparaocha, alongside other suspects sold the child to a buyer in Portharcourt, Rivers state. Still on the child trafficking, a 24-year-old lady her name was given as Easther Anyanwu, said to be from Ikeduru local government area, claimed she was forced out of her home by her families, for refusing to sell her 4 months old baby. Some of the incidents of child stealing/trafficking as captured by Southeast Voice, started from the Cameroonian lady. The Police narrated that “On the 13/06/2019, Operatives of the special anti robbery squad SARS, acting on intelligence arrested one Queen Imoh, ‘F’ a native of Cameroon but resides in Kaduna, was arrested with a stolen child, one Naziru Abdulwahab, ‘m’ 6yrs old, at Umuna, orlu “The said Queen stole the boy from Nasarawa area of Kaduna state, and came brought him down to Imo state to sale him to her partner, but unfortunately for her,the said buyer rejected the boy on the basis that the boy has tribal marks on both side of his head. “She was consequently arrested based on a tip-off by the locals of the area who suspected that she was not in anyway related to the boy.” The police said: “She however confessed to the crime and said it members too many. We met the herdsmen and asked them where they were going but they ignored us. We had to stop them and asked them to go back that we have cultivated all our lands, that there is none left for them to graze on. “We told them that our place cannot accommodate them in their numbers and so they turned and we followed them, all members of the community followed them, both old was her third time, that the first one she sold was her own son by name Joseph Imoh ‘M’ 2YRS ,for the sum of two hundred thousand naira (N200000). “The second was one Samuel ‘M’ 1 YR Plus, whom she stole when the mum asked her to help her take care of her son while she rush to buy something, she said she sold him for the sum of two hundred and thirty thousand naira (N230000). “However, the command in partnership with the Hausa community in Orlu has been able to trace the parents of the said Naziru Abdulwahab, and the boy was handed over to his father Abdulwahab Ya’u.” On the selling of five children from Imo state to Cross River state the police said: “On 24/4/2019, one Immaculata Edward, a native of Okonde in Cross River State who is a girlfriend to one Ifara Isong resident at Eziama Logara in Ngor Okpala L.G.A visited the said boyfriend, because she was familiar and well known in the •A cross section of Agbada-Nenwe community and the young followed them to the express (Enugu-Port Harcourt road). They wanted to follow Awgu but we refused and they diverted towards Enugu. That was the end of what transpired between us and them and before God.” A woman of about 45 years, Mrs. Nkechukwu Maduekwe, who was so bitter about the menace of the herdsmen in her community, was furious on the twist of what How Imo is gradually becoming headquarters of child traffickers •One of the suspects Queen Imoh, a Cameroonian arrested by the Imo state Police Command. area, the children and the neighbors of her boy friend were all fond of her, they left the children in her custody while they went about their business. “The said Immaculata targeted when her boyfriend went out to buy something and then she stole five (5) children namely Somto Ekeh ‘f’ 6yrs, Kelechi Ekeh ‘m’ 5yrs, Chisom Ekeh ‘f’ 3yrs, Ebuka Enwerem ‘m’ 3yrs, Chioma Enwerem ‘f’ 5yrs And Lucky Idah ‘m’ 6yrs, all children of one Reginald Ekeh ‘m’ and took them to a notorious child trafficker. “One Perpetual Iwuji from Obokwu Ulakwo in Owerri North L.G.A, who then sold two (2) of the children to one Grace Nwachukwu, another notorious child trafficker who hails from Isiala Mbutu in Aboh Mbaise L.G.A but resident at Mpape Abuja. “Immaculata also stole two (2) of her uncle’s children from Cross River state and sold them to one Ifeoma Ndubuisi ‘f’ from Lokpanta in Umunneochi L.G.A Abia State. “However, following intelligence, systematic, thorough and painstaking investigation, all the children stolen from Logara was recovered. Moreover, in the course of the investigation, additional five (5) children were recovered from Perpetual Iwuji and kept in an orphanage home. “The five (5) children stolen from Logara have been reunited with their families. Meanwhile, one of the two children stolen from Cross River state has been recovered from Ifeoma Ndubuisi and efforts are on top gear to recover the happened before her own eyes and which she also said she was a participant. “After cultivation in our farms, the herdsmen and their cattle will destroy them. If you go to our farms now, you won’t find any crop standing. The Fulani herdsmen destroyed our farms both last year and this year to the tune of millions of Naira. If other people like it that way, I particularly do appreciate it that way because I have many children that I take care of and I have no other source of living except through farming. After cultivation, I sell the produce and use the proceeds to train my children. “It was at about 6am on that Saturday morning, when he had hardly woke up from sleep that we saw Fulani herdsmen passing though our road with their cattle. They were over 200 cows and there was out cry in the community and we all woke up from our beds and pursued them to them express road. That was what happened on June 29. Those who said we did not chase them out are telling lies. It happened. I was part of it, I was tying my wrapper that I slept with and followed to pursue them to the express.” In the same manner, 44 years old Kenneth Aneke said “I cultivated with the hope of making money from the farm, all at a sudden, these people came and destroyed this farm that before God and ManI could not raise up to N50,000 from the farm. I cultivated Cassava, Rice, Potatoes, maize, you can ask anybody from this village, but all these things could not yield up to N50, 000 for me. We have not asked anybody to give us money.” However, due to the attention the report generated, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the security agencies and other government officials went to the community on Monday where the delegation met with the traditional rulers and the community members. Governor Ugwuanyi at the community said that an online trending video was not true. In the same vein, Chairman of Aninri local government council, Chief Ezikel Chukwu also said that ever since the video broke out he has searched and could not witness such incident in the council area. Ugwuanyi said “We are in Agbada-Nnenwe with the state commissioner of Police, the Director of Department of State Services, the Garrison commander 82 Division of the Nigeria Army and other relevant stakeholders on a fact-finding mission in connection with a video trending on the social media over the purported excursion of some herders and their cattle out of the community. We are also in Agbada- Nnenwe to ascertain other issues that require attention. “We heard the traditional ruler and others denying the occurrence of such incidence in the community, thereby confirming the earlier statement by the police on the matter. Consequently, we found out that the said video is not true and we therefore appeal to those peddling the false rumour about Enugu state to know that Enugu is a peaceful state.” Traditional ruler of Agbada- Nnenwe community, HRH Igwe Francis Imoh, said that what took place in his domain was a spontaneous incident which will never sever the long standing relationship between his community and the Fulani community in Agbada-Nnenwe. Igwe Imoh said “I was at home on that June 29, when that spontaneous incident happened. I want to assure you that nobody is driving the Fulani community out of Agbada-Nnenwe. In the history of our relationship with the Fulani herdsmen, no cow has ever been killed in this kingdom; No Fulani man has ever been hurt in this kingdom and we have continued to maintain peace as directed by his Excellency Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who directed all the traditional rulers to maintain the secularity of the nation, to make sure that we leave peacefully with one another.
By Vincent Ujumadu Osita Ozalagba is the Acting National Leader of Association of Community Youth Leaders in the South East. The association was recently formed as part of measures to ensure that the ongoing move by members of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, MACBAN, to establish Fulani Youth Vigilance Groups in the South East do not come to fruition. In this interview, Ozalagba spoke on how the association would tackle the problem without creating any tension. He also spoke on why youths should be carried along in the scheme of things in the country. What informed the formation of this association? As the cice chairman of the youth wing of the Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU), I have interacted with various segments of the leaders in the various communities. This made me to think of bringing together youths in the South East for us to handle issues concerning security in the zone. I am therefore one of the proponents of the South East Association of Community Youth Leaders. I met with my colleagues in the other states in the South East and all of us are on the same page for the association to take off. We have been reviewing the situation in the country and found it necessary to come together and galvanize ourselves to work in the best interest of our people, especially as it concerns security. The issue on ground is the alleged move by THE TEAM SUPERVISING EDITOR: Chioma Gabriel, Lagos (08052201257) EDITOR: Emeka Mamah, Enugu email: emekemamah@yahoo.com Anayo Okoli, Umuahia Vincent Ujumadu, Awka Chidi Nkwopara, Owerri Peter Okutu, Abakaliki Chimaobi Nwaiwu, Nnewi Nwabueze Okonkwo, Onitsha Ugochukwu Alaribe, Aba Denis Agbo, Enugu Miyetti Allah to set up vigilance groups in the South East. How can the youths come in here? I don’t even blame the Miyetti Allah because they are acting based on what they have seen for themselves. They have seen that the people of the South East are not coordinated. Because there is no coordination, they want to exploit the situation. Even if they have ulterior motive, they are pursuing it because they have discovered that our people are not speaking with one voice. It is not enough to condemn the cattle breeders; there must be a proactive action to ensure that whoever believes he can come into the region with such annoying plan should not be encouraged at all. If we are sincere, we can organize ourselves and put up measures that will discourage the cattle breeders to nurse the idea of vigilance group in the zone in the first place. Their penetration of the South East is due to leadership loopholes in the zone. I must commend the South East governors who have said no to such a move, but more should be done. We are working out plans on how to liaise with the governors. The youths already have a template on this issue and we want all Igbo leaders to be sincere on this matter. Some people should not be charting the way forward, while others are sabotaging the efforts. The truth of the matter is that governments at various levels have not been sincere with the way they handle such sensitive issues. The leaders have not been up and doing in evolving ways of securing our people as a result of this threat. The leaders should build structures that involve youths to be in the picture of what they intend to do. There is no community where the youths do not form the majority and what is required is to give them a sense of belonging. Once the youths are carried along in the scheme of things, they will do whatever they are asked to do. But if you ignore them, they take decisions that are s o m e t i m e s counterproductive. That is why it is imperative for the youths in this part of the country to come together to galvanize themselves to form a formidable structure. This will help us to organize ourselves and put an end to How police station was burnt in Imo by angry youths By Chinonso Alozie, Owerri Hundreds of angry youths yesterday set ablaze a police station in Otoko, Obowo local government area of Imo state. Southeast Voice gathered that the incident which started at •Osita Ozalagba, Acting National Leader about 02:15 pm lasted for hours. The story painted round the burning of the police station in Otoko, was that a young boy, name was given as Ikenna Ogbunigwe, was allegedly shot dead by a police officer posted at the Otoko police station. Another version of the story, was that it all started as an argument from a local drinking joint between the accused officer and the victim among other of his friends and that the officer who was with his gun, became provoked as a result of the argument and expressed himself through the bullet of his gun, eventually, the story was tragedy. Angered by the dead of Ikenna, the irked youths said to be from the village mobilized themselves into action, moved to the Otoko police station, overpowered the police officers and set the police station ablaze. However, there was a claim that some ammunitions belonging to the officers were carted away. Southeast Voice was told that on sighting the angry youths, the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, alongside his men scampered for safety. A source from the village told South East Voice “The policemen would have lost their lives because the youths are very angry. “The argument by the time I left them, should not be something that would warrant the police officer to carry his gun. What it means is that any officer, with a gun is no longer your friend. “There is need to train these officers. Many of them do not know why they were given gun to carry. They now use it on innocent citizens and when they see criminals they run away. This officer must be purnished.” At the time of filling this report, the Imo state commissioner of police was still at the scene of the incident. Just as the State police Public Relation Officer, PPRO, Orlando Ikeokwu, said that he has not been briefed on the matter. Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2019 — 29 Miyetti Allah’s penetration of S/East due to leadership loopholes — S/East Youths Leader all these anomalies happening in the society. That is the only way they can support the relevant authorities to improve governance. The truth of the matter is that until the youths are keyed into the plans and programmes at all levels, the security challenges in the country will not abate because they are the most active in the society. There is this impression that youths only come together purposely to enrich themselves and not to solve any societal problem. What do you say to that? This is true and it is as a result of the decay in the society. I do not want to apportion blames, but I must admit that my generation has not been the role model the society expects of them. There is no mentorship any longer and that is why there is this type of cankerworm eating deep into the fabric of the society. Because there are no role models to look up to and people whose sources of wealth are being – recognized in the society, it becomes survival of the fittest. Because of the fractured system, many youths no longer believe in what the leaders tell them. That is why there is need for us to come together to salvage the system. There are some of us who still believe that things will get better if the right leadership is put in place. We have Ugly ordeal of a widow in the hands of land speculators ENUGU—A widow, Mrs. Ngozi Emeter has cried out to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Adamu Mohammed, to come to her rescue from the hands of land speculators bent on depriving her of the land she genuinely bought from a family in Emene, Enugu. Mrs. Emeter is also alleging that the commissioner of Police in charge of X-Squad in Abuja was in league with the people trying to deprive her of her property and has appealed to the IGP to intervene to save her the agony of losing her hard earned property. According to her, the Police commissioner in charge of X- Squad in Abuja is allegedly frustrating her from getting justice in a case of willful destruction and threat to life she reported at the police headquarters in Abuja. The widow said that her trouble started after she bought a parcel of land in Emene in 2012 and legally completed all the payments involved in the transaction with the family that sold the land to her. However, according to her, when she began the development of the land in December 2018, one Mr. Ikechukwu Nome, believed to be from the family that sold the land to her came with some men and ordered her to stop work, claiming that they were shortchanged by their extended family in sharing the proceeds from the land. Mrs. Emeter said that she politely advised them to go and resolve the matter with members of their family, insisting that she has fully settled them as agreed. Surprisingly, according to her, on January 1st 2019, the said Ikechukwu Nome in company of his cohorts allegedly invaded the property under construction and demolished the houses while shooting allegedly sporadically into the air to scare people away. Angered by this act, the widow said she reported the matter to the Enugu state police command and later transferred it to Abuja as she was not satisfied with the way Enugu police command was handling the matter and the IGP swiftly acted on her petition and referred the matter to IGP-IRT who in the course of investigation arrested nine persons in connection with the crime as well as 4 guns allegedly used in the operation. The suspects, she claimed confessed to the crime and were subsequently charged to court in the Suit number FHC/ ABJ/CR/ 77/2019 with Mr. Joshua Ayana, as the police prosecutor. Emeter however lamented that “surprisingly, on 30th May 2019, a signal was sent chosen to remain steadfast because we have seen the need to protect the integrity of the youths and their future and safeguard the society. Is it not possible for the youths to stand their feet and rebuff the politicians who often use them to achieve their aims? That is what we want to achieve through the Association of South East Youth Leaders. There is Ohaneze Youth Wing, but we are not interested in that because it is not helping the youths in any way. We know it is not easy, but we have been able to identify many like minds in the South East who are genuinely interested in the reshaping of the ideology of the youths. From our experience so far, there is hope that we shall get the desired result. At what stage is the South East Youth Leaders Association? We have been meeting and I promise that in no distant time, our action shall be felt in the region. What is your target? We want to partner with the relevant stakeholders to stem the tide of insecurity in the South East. That is our ultimate target. Until we achieve that, no youth of this region can rest. •Her on-going housing projects demolished •Cries to IGP to rescue her By Anayo Okoli •The widows house destroyed by land speculators to IGP-IRT from the office of CP X-Squad directing the team terminate the charge and transfer the matter to CP X- squad. Not happy with the new twist in the case, the widow approached her lawyer, V. T. Ugochukwu, who sent fresh petition to the inspector general of police, complaining of the development in the matter. The IGP was said to have directed that IGP-IRT to continue the trial of the alleged confessed criminals. The lawyer has complained that despite the approval to continue the widow’s case given by the IGP through a letter with reference number, CZ/7050/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL/ 129/664 of 17th June 2019 to the Commissioner of Police X- squad, he has “blatantly refused to transfer the matter to IGP-IRT so that they could continue the trial of the suspects”, accusing him of showing “a clear manifestation of the personal interest in the matter”. “We most humbly request that you use your good office to compel the CP X-Squad to hand over the matter to the IRT for the continuation of the criminal trial so that the confessed suspects will not escape justice.”
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03072019 - Buhari's Ruga policy, an explosive issue — SOYINKA

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