Renewed clash: One killed, scores injured, 6 arrested

Police said on Tuesday that one person was killed, scores injured and six persons arrested during a renewed clash between Fulani herdsmen and Ozu-Item Community in Bende local government area of Abia state.

Briefing newsmen in Umuahia yesterday, the state Commissioner of Police, Leye Oyebade, confirmed the incident, stating that farm crops worth millions of naira were equally destroyed in the clash, pointing out that his command has deployed reasonable number of Mobile Police officers to the troubled community to avert further clashes.

The CP informed that the State Government has therefore set up conflict resolution committee team headed by Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Sir Cosmos Ndukwe, with leader of Hausa Community in the State Alhaji Yaro Danladi, leader of Myetti-Allah Alhaji Hassan Buba, the Police, Security Adviser to the Governor, Capt Awa Udensi (rtd) and Traditional Ruler of Ozu-Item Eze John Akaniro as members in a bid to find lasting solution.

The state police boss said his command was not leaving any stone unturned until normalcy is fully restored adding that the composition of committee will bring lasting peace in the Area and commended Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Deputy Speaker Hon. Sir Cosmos Ndukwe and Traditional Rulers in the area for quick intervention.

The CP disclosed that the two warring groups have agreed to cease fire while assuring the public that the situation in under control, and appealed to all and sundry to remain calm in the interest of peace.

Speaking, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Sir Cosmos Ndukwe said normalcy has returned, while commending Governor Ikpeazu and Police for quick intervention.
Ndukwe, who is the member representing Bende North Constituency at the State House of Assembly assured of his committee’s readiness to bring lasting peace with migrant herdsmen and host communities.

In their separate speeches, the leader of House of Community in the State Alhaji Yaro Danladi, Chairman Myetti Allah Hassan Buba, and the Traditional Ruler of Ozu-Item, Eze John Akaniro thanked Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, the Police Commissioner and Deputy Speaker for timely response, stating that herdsmen and Ozu-Item Community in Bende Local Government have been co-existing peaceful over the years.

They agreed to put behind them the recent disturbances and assured the Governor of their resolve to make peace and move as brothers and sisters.

Speaking separately with Daily Times in Umuahia, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Eme Okoro who is from Ozuitem commended the state government in “trying to quieting both sides and leading with them to sheath their swords.

He said he tried to bring peace by inviting both the Commissioner of Police in the state and the Inspector General of Police.

He urged the police to stop indiscriminate arrest of his people, stating “when you do not intimidate or harass them, they will not run away. They are already evacuating from their compounds” stating that it is the job of the police to ensure that the people stay at home instead of running away because of incessant arrests.

He advised his people to stay calm, tolerate what has happened, not to do anything retaliatory “until there is the need to do so, or do anything that will hit up the polity and stay put.”

The President General of Ozuitem Development Union, Dr. Okechukwu Madukwe also called on his people to keep calm and not retaliate but to report to the security agencies.

He urged them “not to start a fight but that does not mean that you should allow them to kill you”.
Meanwhile the police have embarked on massive arrests of the community members as many have reportedly fled the area.