After an attack on the Omumauzor Cattle Market in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State on February 15, 2022, which left nine Cattle Dealers dead, the Abia Government has sent a delegation to Gombe State to commiserate with the government and the people of the state due to the incidence.
The delegation, led by a traditional ruler, the Enachoken of Abiriba, His Royal Majesty, Chief Kalu Ogbu Kalu, on behalf of Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, said the delegation was in Gombe State to express the condolences and sympathies of the people of Abia State, over what he described as a very sad and deeply regrettable occurrence by everyone in Abia State.
Misguided and ill-advised fellows
Chief Kalu said the unfortunate incidence was perpetrated by misguided and ill-advised fellows, but that the Governor had swung into action to ensure that the perpetrators were fished out and dealt with according to the law.
He expressed the strong leadership exhibited by Governor Ikpeazu, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State and the Acting National President of Cattle Dealers Association, Mr. Yahuza Yusuf for ensuring a return to peace in the areas.
“When things like this happen, it tests the leadership of our various states. It tests the people, it tests everything. But today U am here and I am grateful I was received with the kind of hospitality I never imagined,” said Chief Kalu.
He said the Abia State Governor had taken some proactive measures to ameliorate the effect of the attack on victims’ families and for the compensation of those who lost their businesses to the attack, including the provision of a new place for the cattle market and a 24-hour security.
Continue to live in peace
Chief Kalu hoped the renewed unity forged by the incident would continue to grow, but urged Gombe State indigenes to invest in Abia State, saying the two states would continue to live in peace.
The Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau, who received the delegation on behalf of Governor Yahaya, equally thanked the Abia State Government for the visit.
“I am saying this because so many of such things have happened in many places, nobody has cared to come. Therefore, if he has sent somebody, it means he shows his own side of responsibility it shows his own side of concern and it shows that he is someone who is after peace,” Dr. Jatau said.
He attributed hostilities in Nigeria to the abandonment of cultural values, which in the past, had been applied and strangers were respected and treated well, saying the killing of strangers attracted banishment from the society.
The Emir of Akko, His Royal Highness Umaru Mohammed Atiku, commended the measures taken by Governor Ikpeazu, which he said had endeared the people of Gombe to him.
“Because he literally paid almost all the damage and also gave a sum of 2 million naira to each of the bereaved, he relocated them, and promised to do everything to ensure their continued safety,” said the Emir of Akko.
Collective welfare of Nigerians
He said such moves were what Nigeria needed, as cementing blocks for the continued unity and collective welfare of all.
The Acting National President, Cattle Dealers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Yahuza Yusuf, equally commended the Abia State Governor for his prompt response by meeting their request for the compensation of members who lost their businesses to the attack and the families of the deceased members.
“We asked him to relocate our market and he has already relocated it. and we asked him to pay for the damages and he said he cannot pay all our damages, but he can assist us. He gave us at least 150 thousand naira for each cow and he said he cannot pay for the life of the human being. He then promised to give us 2 million naira for each family of those that were killed. The money that he promised to pay for the cows, 150 thousand naira each has already been paid and after that, he relocated the market for us. He promised to fence the market for us and bring light and security and so many different things to our market,” Mr. Yusuf said.
The Gombe State Deputy Governor also called on the people of Abia State to come into Gombe and invest, because the state had the land and the atmosphere conducive for their investment.
Lateefah Ibrahim
