*Demand N10m ransom

By Anayo Okoli & Francis Igata

ENUGU—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 reliably gathered 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.

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.

MASSOB reacts

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.

In a statement yesterday, the National Director of Information for the group, Mr. Samuel Edeson, alleged that the activities of the herdsmen were part of the alleged grand design to Islamise Nigeria.

He said: “MASSOB warns Nigerian Army to stop intimidating and killing the people of Biafra in the guise of protecting the Fulani herdsmen and their cattle.
“MASSOB advise South-East governors to encourage community-based vigilante groups for proper and well-coordinated security of lives, properties and farmlands.”

isan:
Fulanis herdmen are stupid coward blood suckers, they can't fight man to man they can only fight children and old women. Mtcheeeeeeeew

UNECboi:
our governor is a dullard...good people of enugu it's time to defend ourselves.

Jombojombo:

I am from Enugu State and I think I have to agree with you!

This nonsense can never happen in a state where Peter Obi is the Governor!

Gburugburu should better wake up from his slumber

kettykin:
This is very very bad , I don't know at what point igbos want this to reach before they think of self defense

Jombojombo:

I am from Enugu State and I think I have to agree with you!

This nonsense can never happen in a state where Peter Obi is the Governor!


Gburugburu should better wake up from his slumber

uhalauju:
These guys(herdsmen) should be tamed oo.
They r becoming worse than the BH guys.
Hmmm...the earlier the better

UNECboi:
our governor is a dullard...good people of enugu it's time to defend ourselves.

HalfTruth:
Angeli awon Yoruba dey on serious revenge for Mile 12 criticism. When Fulanis were causing chaos in the SW, Igbos were celebrating on social media. See una life? So how una 'brave' touts go avenge the priest?

StunningCEO:


This is why I love our people....no Yoruba man or woman will come here like they did in the mile 12 incident even though that involved no herdsmen and also the dead were Hausa/Fulani.....if this ever happened in Yorubaland dem for don full here....smh.....just feel so sorry for them sha....,everyday..,these people are using them for Suya but they will be coming here to shout Yoruba.....chai....

HalfTruth:


My bro, see how dem dey dodge the thread. Even the mods have been trying to shut me up with every other day ban Cowards.
Earlier last year, they claim SWners are cowards and that it can never happen int he East. Fulanis started in Enugu by killing an Eze. Igbos kept quiet, turned their attacks on Yorubas. Fulanis came back to attack their farmers, rape their women and kill their children. Once again, they kept quiet and waited for an Agatu and Mile 12 attack. Now Fulanis don kidnap one Enugu Priest, once again they kept quiet. When Fulanis kidnapped Falae, they were all over the social media calling Yorubas cowards. I don talk am, karma is one lovely lady


I know one mod will soon get trigger happy and start deleting posts. But if na anti-Yoruba thread, dem go get immediate coma.

StunningCEO:


Very shameful..... ....the way they see Yoruba everywhere...I just don't get it

pacino26:


Soldier man go tell you say 'you don buy job' I think they've just bitten more than they can chew there. Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni are blood suckers themselves. I go watch the match in 4D

AshiwajuFoward:
Like what the actual funk is happening in the SE?? Looks like the herdsmen are having a field day molesting especially Enugu folks. That's some straight up bullsheet.