The Ebonyi state government, in collaboration with Ministry of Internal Security, Borders Peace and Conflict Resolution,(ISBPCR), has charged leaders of Fulani community to abstain from activities that could stir up commotion between them and farmers in the state.
The Commissioner (ISBPC) Hon. Stanley Okoro Emegha pointed out that major cause of dispute between herdsmen and farmers in Ebonyi state was the inability of herdsmen community to supply their host, as well as governent with adequate information.
According to Emegha, “the state government is aware of every genuine Fulani herdsmen in the state and if conflict arises, the government knows who to hold responsible”, he said, stressing that lack of information on data of visiting herdsmen into the state makes it difficult for government to take cognisance of herdsmen with bad motives.
Furthermore, the commissioner warned the Fulani community against taking for a ride government’s and Ebonyians’ generosity and hospitality respectively, as he appealed to Ebonyians to continue to accommodate the law abiding ones among the Fulani community.
Here him: “we are all Nigerians, we have our own people who reside in the north, if they cannot engage in destroying our farm lands they can stay, but if their business here is to be hurting and raping aged women, we won’t allow that, our people should also accommodate them but don’t do so at their own detriment”, he insisted.
Meanwhile, Hon. Emegha mandated the Fulani community to provide the list of their newly elected officials to the state government for proper documentation and recognitions, while charging them to set up a committee.
He, however, gave the herdsmen camping at Ebonyi Cross- War Zone within the Ikwo local government Areas of the state seven days ultimatum to quit the area.
Addressing Journalists, the chairman Ebonyi state chapter of Fulani herdsmen, Mr Usman Isiaka who acknowledged that their stay in the state over the years had been peaceful, thanked the state government for their accommodation.
Mr Isiaka implored Ebonyians not to take laws into their hands rather to report any cases of farm destruction to him in order ensure a peaceful coexistence between his people and host communities, as he used the medium to advise his people to be law abiding.
