Youths of Umuorie, Asa in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State have told Governor Okezie Ikpeazu they were tired of coexisting with the Fulani community in their area.
The youths therefore urged the governor to do something without delay before crisis of monumental proportion would erupt in the area.
The youths anger and stance followed the recent killings of two persons from the community, Mrs. Nwanyieze Ogbonna and Mr. Chimezie Nwaobilor by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen.
Mrs. Ogbonna and Mr. Nwaobilor are said to have hailed from Umuachigide and Umuagbudu Umuorie respectively and were kidnapped and killed by herdsmen on June 18, 2022.
A statement issued by the leadership of the umbrella body of the youths in the area, Asa Liberation Movement (ALM) called on the state government to act fast before the area is engulfed in heavy crisis.
The statement signed by ALM President, Hon. Emeka Adiele, Secretary, Uju Ihunanyachukwu and Charles Samankwe, the Publicity Secretary, read in part:
“That we are tired of our coexistence with the Fulani Community whose intent is to rape, kill and destroy our lives and properties.
“We ask Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to sanction the Fulani Herdsmen/Community to vacate all our bushes and its surroundings with immediate effect to avert inevitable crisis.
“That while commending security agencies for restoring peace and order in our community, we also urge the Governor, in his all-inclusive sanction, to direct the 144 Battalion to release any suspected Fulani Herder in their custody to the State Government for possible eviction.
“We task the youths to be vigilant, especially in this precarious time of politicking and always report any suspected invaders/unknown faces in their communities to the nearest Police Station while urging them to go about their daily businesses as normalcy has been restored.
“We are tired and we’re calling on our governor to come and talk to the soldiers at 144 Battalion to stop molesting our people before things will escalate to the level where nobody can control it.
“We warn that henceforth, any attack on Asa person by Fulani Herdsmen, will be met with total war on the herdsmen in our land.”
The youths’equally would want Ikpeazu to call on the military hierarchy to instruct their men to vacate Obehie market to enable people go about their normal businesses, adding that for the past three days, Obehie had been under siege by soldiers.