Sad Ordeal: How Police Threw Two Enugu Monarchs In Cell Over Slain Cows In Nimbo Community

The traditional prime minister of Ugwuleshi in Awgu local government area of Enugu State, has narrated how two monarchs from the area were thrown in police cell over cows.

While testifying before a panel of inquiry on Wednesday in Enugu into the the suspected herdsmen killing of people and destruction of property in Nimbo community,  James Onyimba, traditional prime minister of Ugwuleshi in Awgu LGA of the state, has narrated how two monarchs from the area spent 38 hours in police cell over slain cows.

 

According to TheCable News, Onyimba gave the name of the traditional rulers as Paulinus Ikpo of Onoli Awgu and Alo Okeke of Umuhu village, adding that residents of the community were accused of killing four cows belonging to Adamu, a Fulani herdsman, whose cattle graze in the area.

 

The prime minister also revealed that sometime in March, the monarchs went to the police area command in Oji River to intercede for their subjects, but were thrown into cell.

 

“The owner of the cows reported the matter to the Area Command in Oji River and the police along with the cattle breeder insisted on the payment of N400, 000 as ransom.

“On the day our people were mandated to make the payment, the monarchs only went with N200, 000 as they were not able to raise the complete ransom.

“The then area commander insisted that the complete sum must be paid and detained them in the cell,” he said.

 

Onyimba said when their subjects got wind of the information that their traditional rulers were in cell, they ran around to borrow to make up the money.

 

“It was not easy for our people to raise the remaining balance but before we could do, 38 hours had already lapsed,” he said, adding that the monarchs were subsequently released following the payment of the ransom.

 

The prime minister accused the security operatives of being biased in handling issues between herdsmen and farmers in the state, saying shortly after this incident, more than 10 acres of farmland were completely ravaged by cattle belonging to the herdsmen.

 

“When the matter was taken to the same police station, the owner of the cattle only agreed to pay N70,000 even when the destruction was valued over N2 million. The police eventually allowed him to get away without paying anything,” he said.