The Member representing the Isuikwuato State constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Chief Emeka Okoroafor, has accused the Army of abetting the criminal activities of Fulani herdsmen in his constituency.
Okoroafor, who made the allegation during a radio programme in Umuahia, disclosed that some Fulani herdsmen were recently arrested in Isuikwuato council following a security arrangement put in place by the council.
He alleged that an order came from the 14 Brigade, Ohafia, for their immediate release despite evidence linking them to kidnapping such as multiple SIM cards, charms and army camouflage.
“The Council chairman of Isuikwuaito LGA held a meeting with the leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, where he instructed them to leave Isuikwuato forest with their cattle. Rather than heed his instruction, the Miyetti Allah took over the forest engaging in kidnapping, killing and raping of women.
He further stated that the Army has been indifferent to the mounting insecurity challenges of the area.
“For instance, on Thursday 19th August 2021, some criminals masquerading as herdsmen blocked the road between ABSU and Oguduasaa for hours, raping, stealing and kidnapping people. It was during this incident that two university lecturers and other persons who are yet to be accounted for were kidnapped. Two men carrying charms, phones and multiple sim cards and five others communicating with them, maybe to ascertain if the road is clear for them to strike, were arrested by the security architecture put in place by the Council chairman, but on the orders of the military, they were released.”
Okoroafor decried the increasing level of insecurity in the constituency with security agencies doing little to deal with the situation.
He lamented that the Police Divisional headquarters in the council has been relocated to Ovim, close to the Army barrack while the Police post in the council has been abandoned by the police out of fear.
On what he has done to draw the attention of the state Assembly as well as the State Executive council, Okoroafor explained that he has raised the issue as a matter of urgent public importance at the floor of the House.
He also explained that the Brigade commander, 14 Brigade, Ohafia and other security heads have been summoned by the State Assembly, and after their deliberations, resolutions were reached for the enforcement of the ban on open grazing as passed by the legislature and assented by the governor.
The lawmaker expressed anger that despite these resolutions, the military is deliberately abetting bandits pretending to be herdsmen who have been unleashing mayhem on the people of the area.
Lamenting that the herdsmen terrorizing his constituency are well armed with sophisticated guns, Okoroafor stated the helplessness of the Vigilante groups in the area who operate with dane guns, adding that they have been engaged in intelligence gathering and reporting back to the Army and Police.
He appealed to Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu to support the local vigilante and Isuikwuato local government council by providing operational vehicles for the vigilantes as well as increasing the council’s security vote to boost its capacity to tackle the rising insecurity in the area.
Public Relations Officer, 14 Brigade, Ohafia, Capt. Iliya Dauda, when contacted, denied the allegations, saying that the Army has been battling kidnappers in the area, including the rescue of kidnap victims.
The Army spokesman advised the lawmaker to formally petition the Nigerian Army on the allegations and assured that the petition will be looked into.
