UNABATED FULANI HERDSMEN PROVOCATIONS & DESTRUCTIONS IN NENWE TOWN

Eleven  months ago the Nenwe community in Aninri LGA of Enugu State   was  in the limelight when they vehemently but peacefully resisted  fulani people  settling in their  farms  with hundreds of  cattles i their farmland. 

Many interpretations  were  given  to this  and the Federal government promptly  through the state government sent a delegation  of all the  service  chiefs in the  state  who went to the Igwe to 'muscle  out' (as we learnt) statements  to the press which indicated there were no problems  and that the fulanis  were living in harmony in the town. This  statements  that went on air  was later debunked  by the  youths  through the Punch newspaper two weekend after. The youths  pointed out many  reports to the police and pending court cases of  un honoured financial compensations, illegal occupation of 4 strategic points  of  the town, wanton destruction of their farm lands and harassments of women in  the farms  by fulani herdsmen. The whole world  and  the nation were told  other stories.

According to the complaints  from the community members  that spoke  to us recently the herdsmen took advantage of this apparent intimidation by the state security agencies  and Governor Ugwuanyi and have continued  to expand  and illegally occupy their farmlands. They are obviously  sure  of  immunity and impunity   therefore have been acting to the latter. Their  provocations  have been daily and the youths  have  continued  to restrain themselves  from taking unilateral actions.  They have complained  to the  community leaders  who  are  so frightened  by the  state security agencies storming of  the Igwe of one of the communities  last year in  what was said  to be  a 'mediatroty mission' . They have  complained that nobody has  come  to hear from them  and address their complaints the way  they rushed  to query why the cattle men were stopped  from settling.

Some months ago according to them, some fulani harassments  were reported  to the police  and when no actions  were taken and as usual  the news   wasn't even  reported by the press in Enugu in anyway  someone  in the community spoke  with an online social media group who highlighted  the problems. The only response was that the   community was  threatened  by the police command  of arrests  if  they discovered  the reporters  of  such news  of   harassments and destruction  by  by fulani men. Meanwhile the fulanis  claimed they lost a cow to unknown persons  and pressed that the community pays  for it. That would  be the first payment by anyone  since  history of  farm destructions  being reported. Now  it is  what the Igbos  call "beating me  and telling me not to cry"

Some  days  ago the provocations  and destructions  continued  and a woman in the farm was wounded  by these herdsmen. The people succeeded in catching one of  the herdsmen and handed him over to the police.

Now  it is  a clear fact that the fulani herdsmen have not relentened  in targeting the town and looking for confrontations  . The villagers  are abandoned  to themselves  since  they cant even report or when they report to the press they are threatened  by the security chiefs of the state, they youths  have  been very cool headed and disciplined in handling this  provocations  but would like the Governor  to intervene.

 They have made some points clear;

•  That they never leased any parcel of land  to the herdsmen.
• That Nenwe is  a 100% agrarian community in the Aninri LGA.
• That Nenwe town like other parts of the Old Awgu LGA  being an agrarian   community dosen not by culture permite OPEN GRAZING. All animals  must be in the owners  closed compound  or they are bound  to be hunted down.
• That they have hosted and tolerated cattlemen passing, even temporary brief overnight stays  (since many years) and they were relatively peaceful but cant cope anymore with these new violent and arrogant new breed of fulani herdsmen with guns.
• That  they don't see  why herdsmen should  be carrying openly AK.47 assultand battle  guns in the farms  and  community.
• That they gently ask all herdsmen to leave the farmland they are illegally occupying with threats of gun and rape of the women
• That the State government should intervene in their   removal from the lands before it results  to other problems. 
• That they continue  to praise the youths whom we are all aware of their temperaments and wort  for restraining themselves from misconducts  and for  being lawful in the face of these provocations.
• That the continue  to ask their neighbours to be vigilant and communicate movements of criminals.
• That the whole igbo people should be aware of these provocations in Nenwe that has escalated since 2019.

We hope  the state government would lend a listening ear to these cries.

INSECURITY IN ENUGU STATE,CROWD RENTING & THE CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE:By Fr. Ike Odigbo Ph.D

Insecurity in Enugu State, Crowd Renting and The Conspiracy of Silence

By Fr. Ike Odigbo 

On thursday 1st August 2019 Fr. Paul Offu was murdered in Awgu area of Enugu State, an event which sparked off series of events of unprecedented proportion. Fellow priests took to the streets in solidarity to protest the high level of insecurity of lives and properties in Enugu State. Earlier in March Fr. Clement Ugwu was murdered in his parish in Ezeagu. Another priest Fr. Paulinus Ilo was ferociously attacked by gunmen. He is still in hospital. 

It is not just about priests. Scores of men and women are being daily hunted and killed. We all get updates on social media from victims and eyewitnesses of the deplorable condition of security in Enugu. Just a day after Fr. Paul was killed news went round of the kidnap of the traditional ruler of Umuobom community in Agbogugu, the same axis where the priest was killed. 


On August 8 2019, news and pictures flooded the internet of Traditional Rulers in Enugu giving a resounding vote of confidence on Enugu State Governor Mr Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. It is only one week since Fr. Paul Offu was killed and hasn't yet been laid to rest when the so-called royal fathers are  displaying this show of shame. It is a conspiracy of silence by those who should rise to speak for their people.

Truth is that anybody who pretends that there is peace and security in Enugu is telling a huge lie. People are living on edge. Of the entire five States of the South East, Enugu is now the most insecure. No day passes without news of people being killed, robbed, kidnapped, hunted and raped. The governor knows this. The traditional rulers know this. They are merely on a shoddy game of face-saving. They are living in denial. 

The action of these traditional rulers is a correct reflection of the shape of Nigerian politics. Rather than rise up to solve social problem, politicians spend vast amount of human and financial resources to cover it up. They fail in their duty. Then they buy-out those who would speak out and then the problem incubates and grows to out of proportion. It is the same attitude in education, health, roads and now security. But because security is very sensitive, it is the most inflamable of all, because it is about life and death. 

It is a shame that Governor Ugwuanyi prefers image laundering than rising to his duty. He has this irritating habit of renting crowds to sing his praise. Of course he knows, that everybody knows, that it is quite easy to assemble all the royal fathers in a giffy. Its very simple. Just dole out cash and get then to violate their oaths and compromise their integrity, men who should be honest and upright. But that has been his tactics in the last four years: with teachers, civil servants, pensioners. Traditional rulers are in the payroll of government, so naturally they lose their independence. Hunger and abuse have made our people, usually honourable, to lose their shame. He who pays the piper they say dictates the tune.

These traditional rulers are also under strict instructions by the governor not to 'disturb' the peace of fulani herdsmen who live in the bushes of Enugu State. They are to restrain their people from any possible confrontation with the fulani. Whoever fails to live up to this will be deposed. In other words, the traditional rulers are indirectly selling out their own people while pretending to defend them. News is everywhere of their dealings with fulani men. But that's a story for another day. Its the character of Nigerian politicians, the traditional rulers and town union executives now also have the virus. 


Anyone who thinks what am saying here, that traditional rulers are under firm control of the governor, is fictitious should recall what happened in Nenwe months back. Nenwe youths mustered the courage to drive away fulani people and their cattle. The video was trending online. The next day, the traditional ruler of Nenwe in a press briefing at which the governor himself and representatives of the fulani cattle rearers were present, publicly denounced the action of Nenwe Youths. Governor himself spoke. 

The impression being created is that everything is ok. But nothing is farther from the truth. Had it been that the Nenwe example was not denounced and criminalized, that is, the eviction of troublesome fulani, it would have been a worthy template for other communities. But here we are, back to square one. But its good for the governor to know that indeed things are not ok. People of Enugu State and those who live and do business within it are in danger and the evidence is there for anyone to see. 

It is arguable that next to Benue, Enugu has borne more of the brunt of fulani herdsmen attack. While all the states that are facing this insecurity problem are adopting a combative approach, Enugu is living in denial. Anti open-grazing law should have been passed. Same with anti-kidnapping law. Regular denunciation of herdsmen antics in strong terms and outright rejection of Ruga or related fulani gimmicks should be coming from the governor. He should copy Dave Umahi or Yesom Wike. He should speak out because it weakens the enemy and makes his own citizens strong and confident. Now, we are a laughing stock. 
Gossip is making the round that the governor is intentionally towing the line of political correctness due to personal reasons. He wants to continue to the senate after his governorship, to complete his political round-trip. He doesn't want the harassment of EFCC when he leaves office. His personal ambitions is not my problem, but the insecurity in Enugu. The way he is going, with rising insecurity in the land, I doubt if he will complete this second term. 

This write up is not a general assessment of the governor. It is strictly on security. The people want to be safe. Or at least they want to see the governor, the chief security officer, doing something tangible. Crowd renting does not solve problem. It worsens it by creating false hope. Its like dressing and bandaging an infected wound. What you get is puss and gangrene. When there is no security there is no peace and there is no rest. We as priests are on the side of the people and we live up to our duty when we remind the governor to do his job. But if the people can't get peace, why should the governor expect to have it?

(GRAPHICS  BY BLOGGER)

Beyond Ruga: Fulani's War on Nigeria

 Beyond Ruga: Fulani's War on Nigeria 

How many of you know that the civil war in Central African Republic started because the Fulani's who were less than 6% of the population did a coup to seize power.

The president then began installing Fulanis in top govt positions. All business, economic, military positions were held by Fulanis. Churches were attacked and ransacked. Lands were taken and grabbed by the Fulani's.


Then the indigenes planned and strategised. One solemn night, they attacked. Killing hundreds of soldiers guarding the president with Dane guns and matchetes. Some accounts say they butchered the soldiers like cows and goats.

The president fled the country and a civil war broke. Over 80% of the Fulanis have fled CAR. Those that remained, their cows were slaughtered and their lands given to the rightful people.

So the question is, what is happening to the remaining 80% that were driven out of CAR? Remember that the CAR civil war broke out in 2013 and the expulsion of Fulanis began in 2014. 


If you're good in basic maths you'll realise when Fulani herdsmen started killing in Nigeria was in 2015 right. Good.

Also remember that El Rufai said that the people killing weren't Nigerians. Remember? He was right. They aren't. They're Fulani nomads and they're looking for land. 

Nigeria is the perfect place for them to conquer. The south is divided and their Nigerian brethren have already conquered the North. The only reason they couldn't conquer CAR was because they country was united against the Fulani from the onset. Although new powers are looking to gain control in the country.


If Nigerians will learn from history, no Fulani man should be allowed to rule this country. And even if by chance they rule, they must never be given the powers that have been given to PMB. PMB govt resembles the strategy deployed by the Fulani in CAR. Where the Fulani will head all important govt agencies.

Those who fail to learn from history, are already doomed to repeat it. 

Copied with thanks from Daniel Honour

FULANI INVADERS HERE AT LAST?

 **FULANI INVADERS HERE AT LAST?** (A write-up from Fr. David Ihenacho, Ahiara Diocese. This was copied from his facebook page where he posted it) 
In the last couple of weeks, there have been insinuations and conflicting signals about what the notorious Fulani herdsmen might be up to in the Southeast region of Nigeria. 

• First, there was the leader of the so-called Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) announcing to the whole world that the Southeast region of Nigeria would soon boil and perhaps burn as well because of their stubbornness and refusal to turn over their farm lands to the invading Fulani herdsmen for the grazing of their cattle. Of course, there was the predictable immediate denial of the truth of the announcement by the already embedded members of the herdsmen in the region.
• Second, it was reported on June 21, 2019, that a meeting in Enugu featuring Southeast Chambers of Commerce with the Governors Forum of Southeast Zone also featured the representatives of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association who came up with the "brilliant" idea that the youths of the Fulani herdsmen should be given a vigilante role in the Southeast zone to complement those of the local vigilantes of the different communities of the zone. Again, predictable so, the Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo scoffed at the childish suggestion. John Nnia Nwodo, the leader of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo lambasted the suggestion with vehemence saying that such a move would be resisted to the last. 
• Third, it was reported also in the social media on June 21and 22, 2019, although without any authentic verification by the mainstream media, that some military-like landings were being sighted in the forest of Enugwu Ukwu in Enugu State. Pictures of military helicopters with some military  combat exercises were presented as evidence of the allegation.  No serious reaction has so far been given about this latest serious revelation. It appears that a great majority of the Igbo people are sleepwalking while the security of their entire zone is being imperilled every day. The reality of the moment is there are indications and insinuations everywhere suggesting that some Fulani danger men might be planning something nefarious against the Southeast region, home to ethnic Igbos who are predominantly Christians. All these announcements, suggestions and all what not cannot be wished away completely. Rather they must be taken very seriously.  Such should lead any conscious Igbo man or woman worth the sort to think critically about what could be done right now to prevent any outbreak of hostilities between the invading Fulani herdsmen and the home-dwelling Igbos of the Southeast Nigeria. The truth of the matter is the invaders are already embedded in the Southeast region. It turns out that the long-held rumour that all the "megards", shoe-shiners, quack tailors, jewelry and embroidery sellers who have been in Southeast and plying their trades among us for quite a long time now may in fact be Fulani invaders bidding their time and waiting for some sort of a signal from their high command somewhere in Nigeria to attack us. But if this has any possibility of being true what can the south easterners do to protect themselves? 
• First, I will not subscribe to the suggestion that anybody, be he or she a Nigerian or a non-Nigerian, plying his or her trade anywhere in Nigeria or elsewhere should be expelled or molested in any way. Nobody's human rights should be infringed upon under any pretences whatsoever. That is to say, let the Fulani "traders" in our midst stay and pursue whatever they call their trades or professions unmolested. But what is needed for people's safety and security is for the general public in the Southeast to know that these harmlessly-looking people may not be all genuine and harmless after all, that, some of them may be harbouring some terrible motives that could be detrimental to the safety and security of innocent people. So, every community should and must keep a wary eye on every one of them. Also, all those who depend on them for their personal security should have a rethink.  
• Second, the Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, the Ala Igbo Foundation, Southeast Governors' Forum, IPOB, MASSOB, WORLD IGBO CONGRESS and all other sociopolitical and sociocultural organizations in Igbo land and all other Igbo-affiliated groups must come together in a big conference at the end of which they must announce to the whole world their resolve to remain a nonviolent people. They must also demand the Nigerian government to take a firm control of the invading Fulani Herdsmen in the Southeast region. The large Igbo conference must make it abundantly clear to the world and to the government of Nigeria  that the Igbos do not want any war with anybody, that they must be left alone to live free in their God-given homeland. They must make a serious plea to nations  who may have some sympathy for the survival of the Igbo people in Nigeria to prevail on the  Nigerian government to check the attacks to the Fulani herdsmen. Such nations should be able to warn the Nigerian government that any attack on the Igbos will be treated as an attack on freedom loving civilized world.
• Third, the Igbos must make some contingency plans about their self-defense. It is no longer to be taken for granted that the Southeast will not be attacked. The truth is the invaders may be already in our midst. They have finished their espionage. They are now waiting for the command to begin their attacks. Those who are asking to be given a vigilante role in our communities are already in our midst and they know the terrain and have in fact mastered the routes to our homes. So, it will be childish for any of us to think that the Fulani soldiers are still very far away from us. In fact they are already here with us. 

I think what could save Igbo communities is what saved the American communities during the American war of revolution around the middle of the 18th century. What saved them was community militia. As the British attacked with their well trained army rural America responded with their community militias. The militias contributed immensely to the defeat of the invading British soldiers. The same could apply to the Southeast. If the nearly three to five thousand autonomous communities in the Southeast were to raise and maintain strong vigilante or militia formations there is hardly any way the Fulani herdsmen invaders will have the better of us. And this is the way the South easterners could begin to arrange for their security and defense against what is appearing very certain to happen at some point in our near future. As the Fulani invaders appear to strengthen and consolidate their presence in the Southeast, let the Igbos think security first. The danger against their safety and existence in Nigeria is more real than ever before. Let them recollect and remind themselves of What Okoko Ndem said at the end of his newscast during the civil war: ONYE NDI IRO GBARA GBURUGBURU NA-ECHE NDU YA NCHE MGBE NIILE.

Harass, kill,intimidate,occupy & dominate: The Fulani ideology( Kogi is done )

It was  a great pity to see the unfolding events in Kogi state :i.e seeing the families of Fulani Herdsmen flooding in to occupy a vast area of the state which many years  ago belonged and was occupied by the rightful owners who were gradually and systematically embarrassed,butchered,and intimidated to the point abandoning the area by this same  herdsmen. 
This has always been the story of the movement of the Fulanis  in history and this is one of the reasons they banned history in schools  so that your children will always remain ignorant of historical facts and frames of references. 
For those still in doubt of this the  circle (harass, kill,intimidate,occupy & dominate)has been completed in Kogi state ,though the final stage of dominating neighbours will take  a while  with what we know of Fula expansionism.
All the communities  that voluntarily welcomed the Fulanis  also saw in time the same dynamic taking place. 
The question I ask those who are accepting colonies and other sorts of settlements in their area is this ; DID YOU READ THE HISTORY OF THE PEOPLE YOU ARE ACCEPTING? How did they behave  in the place they are coming from ?

An Igbo adage  has it  tha  "MADU ANAHI AHUCHIA ISHI NA ANYA OGAKWA KPO YA" That is =nobody would see blindness with his eyes and still accept to welcome it on his eyes... In simple  explanation : you avoid what you already know will eventually happen.
A word is  enough for the wise. 
Read your history books or ask elders. 
  READ MORE

ENUGU STATE FULANI COLONIES ...QUESTIONS

Enugu people welcomed  with euphoria  the report  that their state wasn't among the states that welcomed  the  unpopular "Fulani cattle  colonies" of the Buhari administration, but little do they know  that they already have cattle colonies  approved  and established  by the government.

 An informed  citizen comment on this  said  ".......Enugu does not have to be in the list because Enugu state sold out many colonies already quietly. This is even more dangerous. There are official cattle colonies in:

• Obolo afor,  
• Opi, Ehamufu, 
• Mbu, 
• Nomeh, 
• vast land between Okpome (Nenwe) and Ndeabor, 
• and of course nearby Lokpa (outskirts of Enugu). How much more can they get............?" he lamented.

Someone  even added   that a part of the 'milkin hill' area has been given out. 

The questions people are asking  are:

• Who permitted these establishment?
• Why has nobody ever cautioned on these presence?
• How  can they be controlled  or dislodged now that they have proved to be bad guests  at the long run?

'Enugu is in the 'hands of God ' as the governors says  but we can see the Fulanis have also a chunk of it already.

Citizens talked to  are  calling on the state government to 'stop the 'peace and soothing nice smiles  on TV and get into real action' because  from their  positioning you are strategically encircled !!