By Ijendu Iheaka
The leadership of Asa Liberation Movement (ALM), Ukwa West, in Abia, has called on the state government to intervene in the Fulani herdsmen / indigenes crisis in the area before it escalates beyond control.
The call followed the recent killing of two persons by suspected Fulani herdsmen at Umuorie, Asa in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia.
The call was contained in a statement signed by Mr. Emeka Adiele, ALM President, Uju Ihunanyachukwu, Secretary and Charles Samankwe, Publicity Secretary, and made available to newsmen in Aba on Thursday.
The group condemned “the occupation of their forests by herdsmen through which they perpetrate their villainous activities of kidnapping and unprovoked killing of Asa people.”
ALM identified the murdered persons as Mrs. Nwanyieze Ogbonna and Mr. Chimezie Nwaobilor from Umuachigide and Umuagbudu Umuorie respectively.
They said that the victims were kidnapped and killed by Fulani herdsmen on the 18th of June, 2022.
ALM, which is a body of Asa Youths decried the alleged protection men of 144 Battalion give the killer Fulani herdsmen anytime they attack Asa villagers and run into the base noting that such protection gives them impetus to be more brutal.
ALM leadership also noted that Asa land, a once peaceful and serene environment suitable for all kinds of agricultural production, had been infiltrated and wasted.
They decried “the forceful acquisition of some parts of their land by Abia government for a cattle market which had exposed the indigenes to Fulani herdsmen’s endangerment through kidnapping and killings.”
The group said they had “become tired of having the killer Fulani herdsmen in their land” noting that their hospitality should not become a source of their deaths.
“We task Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to tell the Fulani Herdsmen/Community to vacate all our bushes and its surroundings with immediate effect to avert avoidable problems.
“We also ask the governor to direct the 144 Battalion, Obehie, to release any suspected killer Fulani herdsmen in their custody to the state government for possible eviction.
“We warn that henceforth, any attack on any Asa person by Fulani herdsmen, we will declare total war on the herdsmen in our land,” they said.
The group also urged Abia government to vacate the military at Obehie market to enable people trade and feed their families, adding that they had shut the market since three days now.
