Hausas and Igbos sign Peace agreement in Abia
- Due to the activities of Fulani herdsmen in the country, Hausas and Igbos in Abia signed an agreement
- The agreement is meant to prevent Fulani herdsmen attack and foster inter-ethnic relationship
- The commissioner of police in the state was made the chairman of the committee
In the spirit of fostering peace in Nigeria, Hausas and Igbos in Abia came together to sign an accord for peaceful coexistence.
Daily Post reports that due to the activities of Fulani herdsmen that has claimed lives and destruction of properties, leaders of Hausa/Fulani herdsmen in Abia met with community leaders to reach an agreement.
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The accord was initiated by the state government, the police and leaders of various communities in Abia, and was signed at a Town Hall meeting organised by the state committee on herdsmen and farmers conflict resolution at the Police Officer’s Mess in Umuahia.
Adeleye Oyebade who is the state commissioner for police and chairman of the committee said the meeting was necessary because “the unity of this country is paramount and not negotiable.”
He explained that the government organised the committee to prevent the sort of clashes that were happening in neighbouring states and foster a better relationship between the Hausa/Fulani and Igbo communities.
Oyebade disclosed that the committee has designed short, medium and long term resolution and urged the traditional rulers to carry their people along in negotiating with herdsmen.
He said: “Just as the herdsmen have the right to migrate to any part of the country, the law does not allow the destruction of another’s property/farm.
“The same way, communities should not kill the cows in reprisal but should take the proper channel of conflict resolution, including dialogue and reporting to security agencies.”
He also charged the divisional police officers in the affected local government areas to replicate the state committee with heads of security agencies.
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“The issue of destroying of farms crops, killing of cows and poisoning of water which in most cases breed trouble is what we are trying to find a lasting solution to with the aim of avoiding unnecessary conflicts now or in the future.”
Chief Ukpai Agwu Ukpai who is the deputy chief of staff to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu spoke on his behalf. He said the committee was set up to foster unity between the two communities and prevent clashes between farmers and herdsmen.
Similarly, the Hausa and Igbo communities in Jema’a local government area of Kaduna state decided to come together to fight vice and crime in the region.
Vanguard reports that the communities made the decision on Monday, September 5 to partner with security agencies to wipe crime out.
The decision was reached at a joint meeting of the two communities held at the Igbo community town hall in Kafanchan.
Alhaji Kabir Kasim who is the Deputy Chief Imam of Jema’a was the chairman of the meeting.
He said it was the responsibility of everyone to support security agencies and promised that other tribes will be included in Kafanchan to achieve maximum success.
Source: Legit.ng
