• Enugu community youths tackle monarchs, others over mining royalty

Touched by the mass killings and violence in Benue and Enugu states, a Civil Society Organisation (CSO), South Saharan Social Development Organisation (SSDO), yesterday, asked the Federal Government and the National Assembly to support states to fully implement their anti-open grazing laws.

The CSO also called for the promotion of peaceful livestock management solutions such as ranching, with federal investment in alternative livelihoods for nomadic communities.

SSDO, in a statement in reaction to recent killings in Aguamede, Eha-Amufu, Enugu State, and Yelwata, in Guma, Benue State, stated that the development was not only heart-wrenching but acts of mass violence and grave violations of fundamental human rights.

On Sunday, June 15, Aguamede, Eha-Amufu, in Isi-Uzo Local Council of Enugu State, was thrown into mourning, as armed assailants suspected to be herdsmen, invaded the area while some residents were still in Church, and began a cold and calculated massacre.

By the time the village stirred in panic, more than 10 people had been slaughtered in their homes. The tragedy came a week after a similar attack in nearby Mbuji, which claimed four lives.

Similarly in Benue State, on June 13, two days before the Enugu killings, over 200 people were killed in Yelwata Community by suspected herdsmen.

“These are not isolated incidents. They are part of a long-standing and painful crisis in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and South-East; one that reflects unresolved tensions between herders and farmers, deep land-use conflicts, and the tragic consequences of a weakened rural security framework.

“We acknowledge that some steps have been taken. We commend the deployment of security forces and the resilience and sacrifice of local vigilantes, as well as security operatives who often stand in the gap with limited support,” the group said.

Meanwhile, uneasy calm currently pervades the four autonomous communities in Iwollo Town in Ezeagu Local Council of Enugu State over alleged diversion of royalty accruing to the town from the mining company, Afrimetals.

Some youths from the four communities, including Iwollo Omashi, Aguobu Iwollo, Owollloti Iwollo, and Amagu Iwollo, under the auspices of Iwollo Youths General Assembly are accusing their traditional rulers and Presidents General of sabotaging the Community Development Agreement (CDA) signed with the mining firm in 2022.

The agreement had made provision for water boreholes, the establishment of a skills acquisition centre, road development, construction of a basic health centre facility, and the award of scholarships to at least five of its indigent/ brilliant students, among other things. (The Guardian)