South East breaking News
A 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 and mediation between the Farmers and the Herdsmen conflict in that area.
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 have 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.
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 speech ,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.