The Imo State Commissioner of Police,
Taiwo Lakanu, on Thursday took a tour of
duty to Okigwe Local Government Area of
the state, where he preached peaceful co-
existence between the indigenous people
and Hausa/Fulani in the area.
The visit, which took place at the Okigwe
Area Command premises of the Nigeria
Police Force was not unconnected with
the recent alleged attack launched by the
Hausa/Fulani herdsmen in Enugu.
The visit to the area was said to be
necessary because Okigwe is the home of
herdsmen in the state.
Speaking, the CP said his visit was
preventive sequel to the rumours making
round the state that the indigenes were
planning a reprisal on the Hausa/Fulani
people in the area.
Lakanu’s speech was interpreted to the
Hausa/Fulani people in their language by
the leader of the Hausa/Fulani community
in Okigwe, Alhaji Bui Yaya.
The state CP said there should not be any
room for any form of mayhem, especially
when Nigeria is currently passing a critical
stage.
He said, “There is no time disparity and
disunity in Nigeria will be allowed to rear
their heads not to talk of this period. We
shall not bring in ethnic sentiment in
Nigeria now.
“For the fact that Hausa marry Igbo
people and vice visa, it is enough to bring
in lasting peace in Nigeria. I as the CP will
not be alive in this state and allow it to
happen.
“Imo State Police Command is ever ready
to enforce all relevant laws to maintain our
peace in the state and country at large.
“We will not allow either indigenous
people or the non-indigenes to breach
peace in the state. No person or group of
persons should take law in his/their hands.
We shall not condone that.”
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The State Police boss, however, preached
understanding among the people while
saying that the herdsmen in the area
should not take their cows to where they
would destroy people’s farm products and
the people not to attack the herdsmen or
kill their cows.
Lakanu subsequently, gave out police
hotline numbers to the people and formed
a peace committee, which comprised of
security operatives, indigenes, Hausa/
Fulani visitors, community leaders and
traditional rulers.
Reacting, Alhaji Bui Yaya said that there
had not been anytime the Hausa/Fulani
was planning for reprisal.
“Even when four of our own were killed in
Abia State, we did not launch back attack
because of the way the governor and the
police addressed us.”
Yaya, who said that the people of the
state were misinformed about their
activities in the state, debunked the
allegation that herdsmen in the area went
about their business with rifles and
machine guns.
He called on security operatives to look
inwards and that any herdsmen
apprehended with dangerous weapons or
perfected any dastard action should be
dealt with.
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