Tension
is brewing in Owa community in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State
where a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Aniako Celestine, priest in charge of St.
Joseph Catholic Church, Ukana, Udi Local Government Area was kidnapped by
suspected Fulani herdsmen Saturday evening on his way from his home town,
Ezeagu.
Vanguard
reports that the herdsmen demanded a ransom of N10 million through his mobile
number.
This is
even as activities of herdsmen in Ugwuleshi, Awgu Local Government Area of the
state, last week, led to destruction of farmland and livestock worth millions
of Naira and the detention of 76 members of the community, who were later
granted bail by Umuahia Magistrate’s Court last Friday, following Governor
Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s intervention.
The
herdsmen had also killed two sisters in Abbi, Uzo Uwani Local Government Area
last month leaving 17 houses burnt.
State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ebere Amaraizu, confirmed the abduction of the priest, saying the command was on their trail.
State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ebere Amaraizu, confirmed the abduction of the priest, saying the command was on their trail.
Meanwhile,
following the release from prison custody of the 76 farmers from Ugwuleshi
autonomous community in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State, after they
were granted bail by Magistrate Court’s in Umuahia, Abia State capital, the
traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Godwin Nwobi, and some other leaders
from the area, during the weekend, commended the efforts of Governor Ugwuanyi
in securing the release of the farmers.
While
noting that the farmers arrived home safely to unite with their loved ones
after they were granted bail, the people of the community through their
traditional ruler, Igwe Nwobi and other political stakeholders, appealed to the
Federal Government to find a lasting solution to the challenges being
encountered between the nomadic Fulani/Hausa herdsmen and indigenous farmers in
their community over the grazing of cattle on farmlands.
In
another development, the Uchenna Madu-led Movement for the Actualisation of
Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has warned soldiers to stop molesting and
intimidating Ndigbo while protecting Fulani herdsmen who use their cattle to
destroy farmlands and crops.