Herdsmen demand body of murdered colleague

Herdsmen under the aegis of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria in Cross River on Tuesday demanded for the release of parts of the body of their beheaded colleague, Alhaji Buba Hassan.

Hassan was allegedly killed on Sunday during a clash with farmers in Ugala, Yala Local Government Area of Cross River.

Alhaji Abdulrrahman Abdul, Vice-Chairman of the Association in the state, made the demand when he led a delegation on a visit to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 6, Calabar, Mr. Abubakar Marafa.

Abdul added that three other herdsmen had been declared missing since the incident happened.

He told journalists that Buba was on his way to rescue one of his shepherds who was allegedly attacked by farmers.

He alleged Hassan was killed and parts of his body removed.

“Three others are also missing as we speak and we do not know where they are. Hassan was riding his motorcycle to rescue his shepherd whose hand and leg was cut-off when he was attacked and killed.

“We are calling on the police and the state governor to investigate the matter so that justice can prevail,’’ he said.

Mr Hafiz Inuwa, the Commissioner of Police in the state,confirmed in an interview with our correspondent that one life was lost in the clash while some persons sustained injuries.

“As we speak, we have deployed a full team of policemen to the area to ensure that peace and normalcy returns to the area.

“We have warned people against taking laws into their hands. By taking laws into your hands, you will definitely go in for it because the law will not spare you.

“These people took laws into their hands, thinking they were doing the right thing; but the law is not a respecter of anybody,’’ he said.

He told our correspondent that the command would ensure that there was adequate security in the northern part of the state that borders Benue.

“We are particularly concerned about Northern Cross River because of the passage of the anti-grazing bill in Benue.

“We are likely going to have a spillover of some of these Fulani people, so we will continue to sensitise the Fulani herdsmen to be very careful by not destroying farmers’ crops,’’ he said.