Imo group threatens self-defence over alleged herdsmen’s threat to take Igbo land

President Muhammadu Buhari has been asked to urgently put in place, measures to address attacks by herdsmen in Nigeria, especially in Igboland.

An Imo State group under the aegis of Indigenous Imo Town Unions, made the call, threatening that the people of the region would be left with no other option than to reactivate traditional self-defence approach in order to avoid being destroyed by invaders.

Reports trending on social media had quoted Miyetti Allah as recently declaring at a meeting in Abuja that since governors of South East states have refused to allocate grazing land for herdsmen in the area, that they would take the lands by force using killer herdsmen.

South East zone chairman of Miyetti Allah, Alhaji Gidado Sidikki, had since refuted the claim, describing it as fake news.

However, the leaders of the Imo group, in a communiqué after their meeting in Owerri on Tuesday, said the Buhari government has to live up to its responsibilities.

READ ALSO: Miyetti Allah reacts to alleged plots to use killer herdsmen to forcibly take S’East lands

The communiqué signed by its National President Emeka Diwe read in part: “One of the primary roles and obligations a reasonable and caring government owes its people is protection of lives and property. It follows that where the government fails in this important duty, the citizens will be left with no other option but to reactivate traditional self-defence approach to avoid being destroyed or exterminated by the invaders/attackers.”

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