Nigeria

Ohanaeze writes IGP, protests sighting herdsmen with AK47

Wednesday, March 04, 2020 at 11:27 AM by Wale Akinola

- Ohanaeze Ndigbo has petitioned IGP Mohammed Adamu over the activities of herdsmen in the southeast

- Nnia Nwodo, president-general of Ohanaeze, in the petition alleged that herdsmen carry AK-47 without being challenged

- Nwodo said residents in the Umuawulu community in Awka South local government area had sighted four herdsmen with AK-47 rifles

The apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has written a letter to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, over the movement of herdsmen with AK-47 rifles in the southeast region.

The Cable reports that the group accused law enforcement agencies of ignoring reports of herdsmen moving around with AK-47 rifles in a community in Anambra state.

Legit.ng gathered that in a petition to the IGP, the group said the story would have been different if those carrying guns were members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The petition dated March 3, and entitled, ‘the road to anarchy’ was signed by Nnia Nwodo, president-general of Ohanaeze.

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The Nation also reports that Nwodo said residents in the Umuawulu community in Awka South local government area had sighted four "herdsmen” with AK-47 rifles slung on their shoulders on their way to Isiagu community where they reside.

“When the news of the brazen wielding of firearms spread across the council area, as law-abiding citizens, stakeholders there convened a crucial meeting with the police and Fulani leaders and raised the matter for deliberation.

“The stakeholders told the Fulani leaders in the presence of men of the State Investigation and Intelligence Bureau (SIIB) Awka that they were alarmed and surprised that their boys were flagrantly displaying arms in the public, unmindful of the legal implications of unlawful possession of firearms.

“The stakeholders expressed disappointment that security agencies did not make any attempt to arrest the offending Fulani boys, adding that if it were Igbo boys they would have been arrested, tortured and charged to court," he said.

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The Ohanaeze president said rather than explain what led to the carrying of arms by the boys, or even apologise on behalf of the boys, the Fulani leaders told the stakeholders to do their worst and walked out on them, saying that their boys must always bear arms to protect themselves against religious, ethnic or tribal attacks from any quarters, and there is nothing anybody can do.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that a security summit slated to hold between the southeast governors and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, on Wednesday, February 12, was almost disrupted.

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It was reported that the delay by southeast governors and the IGP to arrive at the venue of the security summit nearly marred the event.

The event which was slated for 9 am was attended by the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, traditional rulers from the five states of the zone, religious leaders, captains of industry and other stakeholders from the zone.