By Sunday Onyemaechi Eze
The prevailing peace, harmony and brotherliness existing in Abbi community of Uzo-Uwani Local government Area, of Enugu State was shattered February 9 when assailants suspected to be Fulani herdsmen invaded the community. The quiet agrarian enclave had no inkling of the evil lurking around that fateful day as people went about their normal daily routines until the marauders struck. More than 150 precious lives were brutally snuffed out by the machete and vicious bullets of the assailants. Houses were torched and farm produces worths millions of Naira destroyed. Like a block buster movie, Abbi went up in flames and in a twinkle of an eye turned out a ghost town. As reflected in one of Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s popular rendition, the assailants left in the wake of the destruction sorrows, tears and blood.
The prevailing peace, harmony and brotherliness existing in Abbi community of Uzo-Uwani Local government Area, of Enugu State was shattered February 9 when assailants suspected to be Fulani herdsmen invaded the community. The quiet agrarian enclave had no inkling of the evil lurking around that fateful day as people went about their normal daily routines until the marauders struck. More than 150 precious lives were brutally snuffed out by the machete and vicious bullets of the assailants. Houses were torched and farm produces worths millions of Naira destroyed. Like a block buster movie, Abbi went up in flames and in a twinkle of an eye turned out a ghost town. As reflected in one of Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s popular rendition, the assailants left in the wake of the destruction sorrows, tears and blood.
Misery is written all over peoples’ faces and life will never
remain the same in Abbi again. People are in dire need of water, food, clothing
and shelter. Survivors are presently taking refuge in neighbouring communities
of Ugbene- Ajima, Nrobu, Nimbo, Nkpologu and Edem. Abbi community and
others in Uzo-Uwani LGA are accommodating and peace loving people. They are
hosts to numerous visitors including Fulani herdsmen who for years have been
grazing in and around the local government without molestation. Some
Fulanis even speak local dialects while their children attend public schools
with the wards of the host communities. “But the major challenge between them
has been the issue of the visitors operating without restriction and even ready
to kill anyone who questions their will. The excesses of the Fulani
herdsmen had been a burden on the community, even as they are tolerated among
the natives. There have been successive stories of Fulanis grazing in their farms
and intimidating them with firearms, raping their women as well as maiming
anyone that dared challenge them.” said Felix Ugwoke.
The incessant attacks on innocent communities by suspected Fulani
herdsmen have become one too many. From Abbi in Enugu
State to Agatu in Benue ,
Plateau to villages in Nasarawa, the story is gory and the same. The chronicles
of attacks unleashed on innocent people by these men are shocking. These
attacks have assumed a frightening dimension. It must be addressed before it
consumes all of us. In fact, this is the right time for owners of cattle to
create farm settlements for their animals. Time for government to establish the
much talked about grazing reserves. There is large expanse of land in the north
suitable for any kind of grazing reserve. What is needed is the logistics to
maintain and keep them going. Therefore, northern state governments should
hasten to provide and equip them with the needed facilities to tame the
movement of headers which is always the source of the conflicts.
