OZUITEM ATTACK, POLICE COMPLICITY & FG'S RELUCTANCE TO TAME HERDSMEN
Posted by FactNews | 7 years ago | 3,068 times
Written by Emmanuel Maduka Nwazue
Thursday, December 1, was the World AIDS Day and I had gone to Michael Okpara Auditorium Umuahia, where the Abia State Government was marking the event. On my way back to the studio after the event, I stopped over at the Press Centre of the NUJ and there I found some colleagues discussing about an attack at Ozuitem.
Some were placing calls while some were angling their headlines in preparation for publication. So I asked if anyone had contacted any of the victims or the police and the answer was in affirmative. The police had in their usual manner said they were "on top of the matter" while one of the victims, Mr. Sunday Oru, who was lying critical at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia was said to have spoken to some of the journalists. 
I then went back to the studio to file my report on World AIDS Day, but I had decided to embark on an independent investigation to enable me report as an authority in the matter.
So, Friday being the second day, I went to the FMC and was initially told that there was no victim of herdsmen attack in the hospital and was asked to wait for the hospital's Public Relations Officer, Mr. Darlington Madubuko who stepped out, to return. After few hours of waiting for him, I decided to go to the state police command headquarters where I met with the PPRO, Mr. Nta Ogbonnaya Nta, who told me that one of the victims was at the FMC.
Before going to the police, I had the information that three days to the attack, the Secretary to the Abia State Government, Dr. Eme Okoro who happened to be a native of Ozuitem had called to inform the AIG of ZONE 9 Umuahia, Mr. H.H Karma to intervene on an attack waiting to happen. The AIG was said to have assured the SSG of instructing the State Commissioner of Police to act and prevent the attack. Three days later, the Fulani herdsmen struck!
With the above information, our camera started rolling and the PPRO confirmed the incident and how the police was on top of the situation.
So, I asked, "Sir, why did the police take a reactionary measure when it should have taken proactive steps to prevent the attack especially, when it had prior information about the attack?"
He responded, "As a community, you don't just raise the alarm simply because you saw people passing through your community with their cattle especially when you know that naturally, they are nomads. He continued, " Should the police just arrest them (herdsmen) for passing through a community simply because the people raised the alarm?" turning to me, he asked, "As you were stepping into my office, did anyone arrest you, even when they do not know whether you have come to steal something or harm me?" "But you and your men have always known me as a journalist, besides, the antecedents of the herdsmen have always kept people apprehensive each time they appeared", I replied. He simply waved it off and asked if there was anyone that does not eat beef. At this time, I couldn't tell what exactly was going on in my mind. I asked again, "Sir, are you aware that the SSG informed the AIG about this attack, why did the police not act?" "I am not the AIG, I wouldn't know if he received such report, you can confirm from him." he responded; and the interview ended.
As soon as it was over, and the camera stopped rolling, he was obviously annoyed with my line of questions and then spread his two palms towards my face and repeated trice, "waka, waka, waka; you want me to indict my AIG abi?"
I left his office with my cameraman and returned to the hospital where Mr. Madubuko was already waiting for me. He took us to the ward where we met a fatally injured man lying on the bed; he was introduced as Mr. Sunday Oru, he had been brought to the hospital without the knowledge of the PRO hence the initial confusion over the existence of such patient. I began chatting with him as he narrated the incident and how the community had on several occasions pleaded with the herdsmen to leave in peace but they remained adamant to the extent that they not only graze their cattle on individuals farmlands but harvest root crops, plantains, okra etc etc, to feed their herds. On the fateful day, one of their women came shouting from the farm that the herdsmen were on her farm destroying things and when she tried to confront them, they started chasing her with knives. The youths (numbering about 10) on hearing this went to the area to persuade them to leave; and that was how the armed herders unleashed terror on them.
Six of them sustained injuries. Four were severe while two were minor; no death was recorded. While Sunday Oru whose case was worse than others was booked for surgery and was about being stretchered to the theatre, others were kept at a hospital called Tochi Hospital at Uzuakoli.
After leaving the FMC on that Friday, my cameraman and I headed to Uzuakoli to see the other victims. We met three young men who gave their names as: Godswill Chibuisi, Maduabuchi Onyemachi and Uko C. Uko. We didn't get to meet the other two as they were said to have sustained minor injuries and were treated same day and only come for check-ups from home. Godswill Chibuisi lost his right fingers and sustained a head cut, Maduabuchi Onyemachi was cut from the back while Uko C. Uko, (an albino) received a deep cut at the back of his neck stretching to one of his ears. We had finished interviewing them when the Transition Committee Chairman of Bende Local Government Area walked in, he introduced himself as Pastor Okechukwu Dike. He told us on record that in his capacity he had held security meetings with the community and the nomads to ensure peaceful coexistence but expressed dismay at what happened; he also said he had made some payments on the medical bills of the victims.
We left the hospital for Ozuitem and was able to meet with the Traditional Ruler of Ogugu Auto. Community, His Highness, Eze E.I Uche who lamented the menace of the herdsmen to the community and called for their exit.
We requested to visit the scene of the attack and the devastated farmlands, and a tour guide was assigned to us by the name of Ezekiel. He came with his motorcycle and the journey began.
Ozuitem has a very large landmass but it is sitting on a very slippery clay soil that even in this dry season, it has remained slippery with a very rough terrain; I wonder how the people cope during the wet season. We moved and after about 30 minutes on the motorcycle in the slippery and rough bush paths, we were nowhere near the mission point; and it was about 4:30pm and Ezekiel made a stop and asked that we returned - I was already noticing some fright in him and being the stranger looking for report components, I had to agree and we returned to Umuahia.
I knew I was not satisfied. I didn't get what I wanted. So, yesterday being Saturday, I returned to Ozuitem to conclude my report. From Umuahia to Ozuitem junction on these two days, I paid 150 naira - N300 to and fro. But a bike ride from the junction into Ozuitem is equally N150. However, I had to spend N3500 inside Ozuitem to access the two areas I visited and if I had gone with my cameraman, it would really have doubled. But I thank God it was all successful despite the frightening nature of the thick bushes.
Now, why would a police chief, an AIG receive information about a security threat and refuse to act? Would one be wrong to point at complicity?
Why is it that the Federal Government has launched so many operations, even in the Southeast known for peace and yet keep mute about the rampaging Fulani herdsmen?
Why does it look like these herdsmen have more boldness and unreserved audacity to kill and maim in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari?
Personally, I see a well orchestrated criminal intention of the government under President Muhammadu Buhari to continue the Fulani jihad of 1804 -1808 (also known as Usman dan Fodio jihad) in other parts of the country especially the Southeast not initially affected by that war. May I therefore, unequivocally call on all local communities in this part of the country to remember that #Onye_ndi_iro_gbara_gburugburu_na_eche_ndu_ya_nche. From the Nimbo attack in Enugu to that of Ndiokereke Abam 3 weeks ago in Abia and this one, the police have always been "on top of the game" while lives are lost. Isn't it therefore ironical and questionable, the kind of security a government that swore to an oath to protect its citizens is providing?
Is there any other definition to hypocrisy when you keep shouting "THE ONLY VIABLE MEANS OF GETTING THIS COUNTRY OUT OF RECESSION IS BY DIVERSIFYING THE ECONOMY THROUGH AGRICULTURE" yet, a group of people whose grand patron you are, are the dark agents destroying the little attempt on agriculture only for you to remain mutely silent; but you were the same person that wasted no time in donning a military camouflage to launch an operation against cattle rustlers? It simply means that cows are worth more than human beings - very unfortunate to say the least.
UMUNNA M, O GBA AKA ACHU EHI ABUGHI ECHICHI! ONYE OBULA NDIA GBURU MA OBU MERUO AHU SITE UGBUA GAWA KWESIRI KA APIA YA UTARI.
-Emmanuel Maduka Nwazue
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