By Newscritic reporters
There is growing outrage in Abia State and beyond over recent disclosure by Abia state governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, that he pays one hundred thousand naira to Fulani herdsmen for any cow killed during clashes.
He also said that farmers are compensated according to the level of destruction of their crops and farmlands.
The governor made the disclosure when he featured in a channels television programme yesterday, Wednesday January 3, 2021. He said the highest amount usually paid for a cow is N100, 000 while the farmer receives compensation based on the assessment of the damage done to his or her crops.
But social media user are aggrieved by this action of Ikpeazu, describing it as hypocritical.
Veteran journalist Mr Patrick Osuji wondered how the governor found scarce resources to pay rampaging Fulani herdsmen for raping women, and destruction caused by their cattles.
“The same governor Okezie Ikpeazu and his government that have failed to rehabilitate decaying infrastructure and pay workers, suddenly found scarce resources to pay killer-herdsmen”.
Leonard Odoemelem wrote on his social media page and asked Ikpeazu “how much did you pay those killed by Fulani herdsmen? How much did Kano government pay to those whose alcoholic drinks were destroyed?
He said the governor advised youths to go into farming and after which the Fulani herdsmen would destroyed the crops. “You as a governor will not even condemn it, instead you are trying to please your masters the Fulani. Posterity will judge you all”.
For Nnadozie Michael Agbaharaiwe, the south east leaders have disappointed the Igbo race with their allegiance to the Fulani.
Newscritic reports that majority of Abians have expressed their disappointment with Ikpeazu for pandering to the Fulani herdsmen, instead of taking action against them over their criminal activities in the state.
At Isikwuato, one of the escaped kidnap victim confirmed that it is Fulani herdsmen that are behind the abduction in the area and recent killing of a motorist who attempted to run away from them.
