On the heels of the widely reported feud between cattle herders and youths of Nde community in Ikom LGA, Cross River Central, Elvert Ayambem, who represents Ikom II State Constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly, has reacted sharply to insinuations in certain quarters that the story may be untrue.
In a statement sent to www.calitown.com, Ayambem insisted that: “For the purpose of clarity the military dehumanization of the youths of my community happened yesterday being Saturday (October 2, 2021) which was a weekend. This incident, will certainly force the House to reconvene that it may be taken as a matter of urgent overriding public interest as soon as possible. Furthermore I have been on this herders menace for months now. I have spent cash, time and traveled home weekly to curb this ravaging monster. I have recorded tremendous successes which my people have been quite appreciative of.”
He went on to say that, “this is the last set of herders left in my community but it seems the military is colluding and harboring these criminals. I had spoken with the CRS Commissioner of Police on this matter and we both agreed on a stipulated date of September 30, 2021, as the last date for the evacuation of cattle from my community. Even when we paid the CP a courtesy call with my colleagues and Speaker of the House, I raised this issue with the CP again and reminded him on the agreed date. He responded by asking me to go ahead with the evacuation as earlier scheduled. He added that if the process is greeted with any resistance, the owners of the cattle be arrested and transferred to State Police Command headquarters.”
He took a swipe at the military by plainly stating that, “it is rather surprising and very disheartening that the military acted unconstitutionally and barbaric towards their landlord and host community”, pledging that he “…will stop at nothing as your representative but achieve the evacuation of these criminal elements from our land. Premised on this, the House of Assembly as a matter of urgency will speedily come up with the anti-open grazing bill to forestall further occurrences. God bless the people of Ikom II and my beloved youths of Nde community. Please I urge you all to remain calm and keep trusting in my judgment. I represent your best interest.”
The legislator earlier showed us a text message he sent to the Commanding Officer of the Army formation in Edor, Ikom LGA, urging the C. O to, “pls and pls call the adjutant to order concerning the issues of cows in our community; it’s urgent. The strange herder occupying our land met with the Commissioner of Police and I was called and asked to give them till September 30th, 2021, which I agreed but no evacuation was done as promised. The entire village is agog now and outraged by the destruction done to their farms and they want the cows out by all means but the Adjutant rather sent some soldiers to molest the youths and women. I’m afraid the dimension this may take if not handled urgently as I may not be able to calm situations as I have always done. Thanks. Hon Elvert.”
Several attempts to get the reaction of the military on this issue were unsuccessful at press time.