The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has issued a strong condemnation of the Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, accusing him of attempting to purchase communal lands in the Eha-Amufu community, located in Isi Uzo Local Government Area, for the settlement of Fulani herders. According to IPOB, the alleged deal, amounting to N30 billion, involves paying off local leaders in exchange for their ancestral lands.
In a statement released on Saturday by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, the group expressed concerns over what it described as a strategic move to displace the indigenous people of Eha-Amufu to make room for Fulani settlements. IPOB claims that the agreement between the governor and Fulani leaders is not only a betrayal of the local community but also part of a broader agenda to undermine the Igbo people’s cultural and territorial integrity.
“It is obvious that Dr. Peter Mbah and the Fulani Emirates are in agreement to hand over the ancestral lands of Eha-Amufu to Fulanis for settlement,” the statement read. IPOB alleged that the N30 billion offer, made through intermediaries, was rejected by some community leaders, but the situation has since escalated into violence.
The group went on to accuse Governor Mbah of collaborating with Nigerian security forces to enable the Fulani herders’ occupation of the community. According to IPOB, the rejection of the offer by the local leaders led to a spate of Fulani-led invasions, which have left the community in a state of fear and disarray. Women have reportedly been assaulted, farmers killed, crops illegally harvested, and homes forcefully occupied by Fulani settlers.
IPOB’s statement paints a grim picture of the current situation in Eha-Amufu. “Presently, some of the communities in Eha-Amufu are under constant Fulani attacks which include countless women being gang-raped, the killing of farmers, illegal harvesting of farm products, and the forceful occupation of people’s homes,” the statement continued.
The group further alleged that Governor Mbah, along with the Nigerian Army and Police, has remained silent in the face of these ongoing atrocities. According to IPOB, this silence indicates complicity, as the government has failed to protect its citizens from the violence.
Emma Powerful warned that IPOB would not tolerate any attempts to undermine the future of the Igbo people, suggesting that the governor’s actions are politically motivated. “IPOB will not allow the selfish politician to mortgage the Igbo future generations just to remain in power for eight years or more,” he declared.
The allegations, if true, would raise serious concerns about land rights and the protection of indigenous communities in the face of increasing pressure from Fulani herders seeking new grazing lands. The tensions between farmers and herders have long been a source of conflict in various parts of Nigeria, and the situation in Eha-Amufu appears to be another flashpoint in the ongoing crisis.
Governor Mbah has not yet issued a response to the accusations, but the growing discontent within the community could lead to further unrest if the situation is not addressed promptly. IPOB’s warning signals that the group may take matters into its own hands if the government fails to act in the interests of the local population.
