From Magnus Eze, Enugu
Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has vowed to stop at nothing to ensure permanent peace returned to Eha-Amufu in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area where many natives had reportedly been having recurring clashes with suspected herdsmen.
Unconfirmed sources claimed some people have been killed in the last two weeks.
A humanitarian situation prevails in Isi-Uzo council at the moment as Mgbuji, Ebor and other communities in Eha-Amufu have become desolate.
The governor, who spoke during a meeting at the Government House, Enugu, with stakeholders from Eha-Amufu, expressed the optimism that solution was around the corner.
He disclosed he would soon hold similar meetings with the Fulani community as well as his Benue State, counterpart, Samuel Ortom.
At the meeting with Eha-Amufu leaders, Ugwuanyi reassured of his government’s determination to restore lasting peace, return of their economy and those who fled to other areas for safety.
He said: “We have laid the foundation for peace and unity. We have been able to restate our resolve for forgiveness. The unity of our people and economy of Eha-Amufu are paramount and we must restore life to the area.
“I want to reassure you that your pains are my pains and that I cannot fold my hands and watch you suffer. I may not be happy with a lot of things, especially when some people have access to AK 47 and use it anyhow and others do not. It will take years for those who have been displaced, especially the innocent ones, to recover and face their life again. It will take years for the memories of those killed, out of nothing, to be forgotten. These are poor people who can barely feed. I went there in the night to discover that there was no light anywhere. I feel their pains.”
The governor further indicated that he would liaise with Ortom with the aim of improving patrol around the axis that serves as escape routes for the invaders.
He then promised to restore leadership in some communities without traditional rulers or presidents general.
In their remarks, some of the stakeholders blamed leadership gaps, dangerous politics being played by their people, divisions and an attempt by some Fulani herders to “acquire, annex and intimidate the people to occupy their land,” as responsible for the killings in the area.
“They debunked rumours making the rounds that they sold some of their land to the Fulani, declaring that Eha-Amufu had no boundaries with Fulani people.
“In fact, they alleged that the Fulani had always collaborated with some Benue people to attack the community to acquire spaces to live in.
“They chased us away from our farm settlements into the homeland. Now, they have left the farm settlements and are attacking us in our homes. We cannot go to the farms any longer. In this season, where we normally harvest rice, we cannot return there to harvest and hunger is killing our people,” the distraught Eha-Amufu people lamented.
They also called for an inquiry to unravel the truth about the disturbances in the area as well as reconciliation for those injured one way or the other for lasting unity and peace.
Daily Sun gathered that the governor had met with stakeholders from the area on January 8.