From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
The people of Izenyi, Ishieke in Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State are predominantly farmers. They produce cassava, yam, rice and other crops in large quantities.
They also rear animals, including local cows, goats and pigs in large numbers. People from far and near buy these crops and animals in large quantities.
Like other parts of the Southeast,the demand for local cows is very high in Ebonyi North and Central part of the state and South East in general because they are used during burials, marriages and high class ceremonies, including visitations to prominent persons.
In most parts of the Southeast, presenting a live cow or cows or slaughtering thesame during burials is not only seen as giving the deceased a befitting farewell but also a sort of status symbol and this makes the cost of burials very high in the zone.If one did not buy a cow or cows tfor the burial of a deceased,espeecially aged parents,such a person becomes an object of ridicule and gossip in the community.In Ebonyi North and Central zones,before a man marries, he must present a cow as the bride price or monetize it. Any man who has not done this and claimed to be married is not regarded as such until he presents the cow or monetize it.
This is why the cost and demand of cow is very high in Ebonyi North and Central Zones of the state as well as entire South East. The high demand has forced its price to go very high in both Ebonyi and other eastern part of Nigeria. A local cow is sold between N1,500,000 and N2,000,000 depending on the size.
In the past,Izenyi people, who are from the northern part of the state, tied their cows anywhere in the bushes around them for grazing without being stolen. But the situation has changed following the disappearance of many cows from the community and residents of the area are now counting their loses as a result of the ugly trend.
The victims have raised the alarm over the situation and accused some members of the community of being behind it.
Okoro Joseph, head of the community, said he has received several complaints from people of the area over their missing cows which forced him to call for meetings to find solution to the problem and regretted that the issue has continued to be on the increase.
He said: “A cow belonging to James Nwamaga was stolen in our community and Sunday Nwuzor was accused of being behind it. Another cow belonging to one Nnanna Nweke was also stolen from our community and one of our community members, Sunday Nwuzor, was also accused of being behind it.
“Obasi Cletus also reported to me that his motorcycle was stolen and that some persons have been arrested over it and that the suspects said that they have stolen some cows and that Sunday Nwuzor usually sends them to get cows for him.
“We became worried and resolved to do something about it. We gathered in our playground to deliberate on it. We took oath for God to expose those doing this to us. After some weeks, Sunday Nwibo Nwogbaga’s cow was stolen and Sunday Nwuzor was caught and he was taken to police headquarters, Abakaliki but he was released because of the backing by some politicians and this is why this crime has persisted.
“We said, okay, since police released him, let us report the matter to another security agency, which is Nigeria Hunter and Forest Security Service(NHFSS). When we reported the matter to NHFSS, they came for arrest in our community but the suspects they came to arrest got information about their coming and ran away.
“When the NHFSS were returning from the arrest, they were accosted at Nwofe by members of Neighbourhood Security Watch, Ebonyi local government area, who disarmed them, arrested them and took them to police and they were prosecuted.
“We are not happy about this. The worst is that these people that are stealing our cows are threatening us. We are not safe, we need urgent intervention. Some of us are no longer staying in our community because of the threat we are receiving from these people that are stealing our things.”
Bernard Unah, one of the stakeholders in the community, alleged that he has lost four cows, including a pregnant one worth N1.5million and was supposed to deliver birth next month. He also said that those behind the stealing are well known in the community and have not been arrested because of their relationships with politicians. According to him, the politicians have been protecting them from arrest and prosecution.
His words: “My cow was first stolen in the village in 2018. Our then village head threatened that anyone found with the cow would be severely punished. This was to ensure that the cow was released but it was not released by the person that stole it. Rather, cows and other properties in our area kept missing.
“Our stakeholders couldn’t do anything because they were receiving bribe. We decided to report these incidents of missing cows and other properties to Ogbala police station in our community and the police couldn’t do anything. We reported the matter also to the police in Nwori and they couldn’t also do anything.
“We gave money in each of these police stations for their intervention but the police didn’t do anything to stop the incidents. We then decided to report to the Nigeria Hunter Security Services (NHSS) and they agreed to come to our community to arrest the suspects.
“When they were going back after coming to our place, they were attacked, disarmed and arrested by Neighbourhood Security Watch. We were very angry because we have tried to invite police into our community to arrest the suspects and the police have refused to come.
“I, personally, is not happy because my cow they stole is very big. It was priced N1.5million and I refused to sell it. They must pay me this particular amount before I will be happy. We know people that are doing all these things in our area, we know them.
“They are doing all these things because they are loyalists of politicians, they have their masters’ support and security agencies have been protecting them, otherwise tell me why these stealing has not stopped. Our lives are in danger, we are being threatened because we said we can’t tolerate these things anymore.”
Another victim, James Nwamaga, alleged that he also lost a pregnant cow worth N1.5million. He disclosed that the community took a decision to punish those behind the stealing by banishing them from the community the way the community did in the past but supporters of some leaders of the area opposed it, saying that there was no constitutional backing for such action.
“My cow was stolen. I kept my cow for someone to take care of it for me. In January this year, it was stolen and it was heavily pregnant and supposed to give birth in February. The cow was worth N1.5mllion.
“We looked for the cow till February 24 this year. Some persons were arrested by our community vigilante for stealing car jack in the house of one of stakeholders of our community and they were taken to Ogbala police station.
“They were interrogated by the police and they also confessed to have stolen motorcycle and a cow. They said that the cow they stole was mine and they said they took the cow to Sunday Nwuzor.
“Some persons from our community came to me and asked me if I want my cow to be given to me and I said yes. They told me to bring N32,000 so that they can release it to me which I gave them but they didn’t release the cow to me.
“I reported to the police. One Samuel Idoma told me to stop following our village head, that I should stop being loyal to him and that it was the reason my cow was stolen. Sunday Nwuzor and Samuel Idoma threatened to kill me if I talked about cow again and questioned why I should be talking about stolen cow in the community.
“We took the matter to our people and they gathered in our village square. Some persons suggested that those who stole the cow or have hands in the stealing should be banished from our community and listed those that were banished as a result of robbery or stealing.
“Supporters of Sunday Nwuzor and Samuel Idoma opposed banishment and said that we have no constitution that support banishment. This caused disagreement during the meeting and we came to Abakaliki, the capital of the state, and reported the matter to Nigeria Hunter] Services since police have refused to arrest the suspects after mobilizing them.
“When the hunters were going back from our community, they were accosted by Neighbourhood Security Watch from Ebonyi local government area. They were disarmed, arrested and taken to police headquarters, Abakaliki from where they were prosecuted. We became so angry because over six cows valued between N1.5millon and N2.million each have been stolen in our community and perpetrators are well known without being arrested,” he stated.
Chairman, Nigeria Hunter and Forest Security Service, Ebonyi local government area, Emma Akpa James, lamented the arrest and prosecution of members of the group on their way from arresting of the suspects. He explained that he and his members informed the police and the Neighbourhood Security Watch of the local government before going for the arrest of the suspects and wondered why they became the hunted.
“On 5th April, 2025, the village head of Izenyi, Ishieke called me that someone stole someone’s cow and tied the cow in a bush. I contacted my colleagues to come so that we can go there. We went there but didn’t see the cow. Our state commander called me on phone that we should come back, that the matter is already being handled by the state CID.
“Before going, I first went to Ugbodo police station and informed police authority there for permission. I notified the police there and they instructed us to go for the arrest of the suspects.
“When we were returning, we saw men of the state Neighborhood Security Watch from Ebonyi local government area. They descended on us and collected all our arms (dance guns). We were with the commander of the Neighborhood Security Watch from Ebonyi local government area, Smart, when they descended on us.
“They freed Smart, leveled allegations against us and took us to police. Police arraigned us but we were granted bail,” he explained.
Reacting to the allegation, Sunday Nwuzor said he never stole any cow in the community. He said that he usually buys cows from people and that some persons brought cow to him to buy without knowing that it was a stolen cow and they were arrested, prosecuted and jailed.
Nwuzor said: “I am not a thief, I don’t steal. Some persons brought cows to me to buy and they were arrested and jailed for stealing. I am a farmer and I rear cows. I also buy cows from people to rear.
“People are calling me thief and they are after my life because my father left big land and other properties for me. They are seeing me as someone who has made it in life
“These people have been causing trouble in our community, threatening to kill me. Our local government area chairman has been calling them for a meeting to ensure peace in our community but they have refused to honour all the meetings he has convened.
“They have been accusing me of stealing people’s cows and other properties for many years whereas I am not a thief; I don’t steal. I am marrying eight wives and they gave birth to 48 children for me and I am feeding them very well. How can I be a thief when I am properly taking care of these people?
“They are jealous of me because my father left many lands and other properties for me which are comfortably sustaining me and my family. They have snatched some of the lands from me and I didn’t do anything to them.
“They have been chasing me around, looking for a way to kill me. I have been sleeping in the bush because of the way they are looking for me. All my wives and children have left our community for fear of being killed.”
Idoma Samuel also absolved Nwuzuor of cow theft. He said Nwuuzor, who he described as a titled chief in the community, made a mistake and bought a stolen cow and he was tagged a thief by some members of the community.
Idoma said while the chairman of the local government area, Augustine Uburu, was making frantic effort to enthrone peace in the community by calling the two parties for a meeting which one of the parties have been avoiding, some members of the community went and brought Nigeria Hunter and Forest Security Service to the community for arrest in the area.
He said members of that security outfit were armed with various guns which was why they were disarmed, arrested and prosecuted.
He said: “The person they are calling a criminal is not a criminal. He is a titled chief. Just that he made a mistake by buying a cow from small boys and the cow was a stolen cow and the matter was reported to the crack office of the state police command. The crack office looked into the matter and set him free and the guys that carried the cow are in prison.
“The chairman of the local government area has been inviting those who are accusing Sunday Nwuzor of stealing to come let him know the matter and they have been refusing to honour the invitations.
“What we saw was a group of people who came for arrest without letting the local government area chairman know about it. We saw hunters who came to make arrest in our community and they were with several guns that were not approved by government.
“We said no, this can’t happen in our place and as I am talking to you, some pigs and goats belonging to Sunday Nwuzor have not been seen till now since they came to arrest him.
“Some stakeholders in our place are intimidating Sunday Nwuzor because he is very popular politically and that is why some of us are resisting them. Let justice prevail, let the police do their work, which they have done and set the young man free.”
Counsel to the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Service, Pius Awoke, said he was briefed by the community on the activities of Sunday Nwuzor and that they pleaded that he should help in his arrest.
“I quickly reported to the police. The police told me that they have tried everything to arrest him to no avail and directed me to help them and arrest him so that he can face prosecution.
“I informed my people for them to go and arrest Sunday Nwuzor. They called me and told me that while they were coming back, they were intercepted, disarmed and arrested on order ‘from above’, that they were armed.
“The law that established Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service, section 3 of it, empowers us to maintain an armed squad and carry arms in order to efficiently carry out our functions.
“So, our men carried arms. They arrested them and charged them to court for carrying arms. Their offence is just they carried arms while the law empowers them to carry arms,” Awoke stated.
Chairman of the local government area, Augustine Uburu, lamented that all the efforts he has been making to bring peace to the community have been frustrated by some members of the community.