South East breaking News
The Prevent Committee members of Partners For Peace (P4P) in the Niger Delta ,Abia state chapter has visited Akanu Ohafia in Ohafia local government Area of Abia state for intervention over the Farmers and the Herdsmen conflict in that area.
(P4P Members With Akanu Ohafia People)
The chairman of the committee, Sir Hyacinth Onyema Nwogwugwu while addressing the youths and the elders of Akanu Ohafia at the palace of His Royal Majesty Ezieogo Modock Mba Odo Okereke said their mission was to mediate over the clash in the area so as to restore peace.
Nwogwugwu ,who disclosed that P4P is a non governmental organization that are advocating for peace in areas engulf with conflict, adding that they are peace builders.
He however frowned at the way the Herdsmen and their cows ave continued to ravage the farms and the crops in that area, adding that if nothing is done ,the people will find it difficult to feed ,because their crops are being destroyed.
Collaborating his speech in their separate speeches ,the secretary of the Prevent Committee ,Lady Delphine Chioma and another member Sir Peter Azubuike underscored the importance of response to early warning and early resolution to conflicts ,revealing that conflict needs to be properly managed to avoid escalation ,while appealing to the youths to listen to the leadership of the community.
Lady Delphine, called for caution among the youths, reminding them that women are always the major victims in most conflicts ,adding that the best solution is peace ,even as Sir Peter Azubuike urged the youths to reduce the consumption of alcohol and drugs saying that its detrimental to health.
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Responding to the speech of the Partners for Peace Prevent committee chairman ,the Youth chairman of Akanu Ohafia ,Mazi Uma Kalu Uyo ,disclosed that ” The Youths of Ohafia do not have any issue with the Herdsmen. We value lives ,we appreciate your coming, but there is no person that his farm is destroyed that will be happy.
“Anyone that wants to rear cows should learn how to keep his cows in one place and fence it round, so that the cows do not destroy other peoples’ farms”
“We will not allow anyone destroy our farms with cows .The same way their cows are important to them ,so our farms and crops are to us. You people should go and talk to them,because they do not value human lives .Anyone who allows his cows to destroy farms and crops is a very wicked person “
(P4P Members With Elders Forum of Akanu )
Addressing Newsmen shortly after accompanying the Prevent Committee of Partners for Peace to the 14 Brigade Garrison Army Ohafia and the Genei ASO Elders Forum Akanu Ohafia ,the Ezieogo Akanu of Ohafia, HRM Odo Mba Okereke ,commended the P4P for the advocacy intervention visit to Akanu Ohafia because of the high insecurity threats in the area.
Ezieogo Okereke ,who is the custodian of the culture and traditions of the Ohafia people, lamented the high insecurity threats in the area from the Herdsmen, saying that the cattle menace in the area is really challenging because the women ,the men and every body depend on these cash crops like cassava and these cows just go into these farmers and cause havoc ,even the young Herdsmen that drives these cows pulled the cassava and fed their cows which enraged the community.
According to him ,” we even have cases of rapes and assault ,I even witnessed a case where they nearly pull a dagger on a retired Colonel of the Nigerian Army and he was so annoyed.There are many insecurity threats in the area, but the most challenging one is this destruction of farms and crops by the cattle “
However ,at the 14 Brigade Garrison Army command Ohafia, the chairman of the Partners for Peace prevent committee, appreciated the commander in charge of the command for receiving the team ,while appealing to him to help to ensure that peace comes back to Akanu Ohafia. He also appealed to the Elders Forum of Akanu Ohafia to serve as a vehicle to propagate peace in the area.And in their separate speeches ,the commander of the 14 Brigade Garrison, Lieutenant colonel Lezuya and the leader of Elder Forum Elder Ikpa Ole promised to help to restore peace in the area.
(P4P Members With The 14 Brigade Garrison Army Commander )
In a similar development ,the Partners for Peace Prevent Committee, while interacting with members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, urged them to embrace peace and they promised to talk to their other members so as to restore peace in the area.
(P4P Members With The Miyetti Allah Members)