Members of Ito Combined Traditional Rulers
Council in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State have protested
against the arrest and detention of the Clan Head of Ito South Clan, Edet Okon
Ebita, by the police over his alleged involvement in the death of a Fulani
herdsman.
The traditional rulers, in a statement on Sunday
by Chief Inyang Inyang, also raised a fresh alarm over the attack on the people
of Mbiabong Ito in Ito North Clan and its environs by herdsmen.
On December 5, 2017, several residents of
Mbiabong Ito fled their homes following the invasion of the community by Fulani
herdsmen.
Fracas later broke out when the villagers
resisted the attempt by the herdsmen, who had come with a large number of cows,
to feed on the farmlands.
After the fracas, it was learnt that some Fulani
herdsmen went to the police to complain that one of their colleague was killed.
But the traditional rulers, in the statement made
available to Southern City News, said Ebita was innocent and not
responsible for any fracas that might have led to the death of anyone.
They, therefore, demanded his immediate release.
The statement read in part, “We, the entire
members of the Ito Combined Traditional Rulers Council, wish to use this medium
to bring to the notice of the general public and government the unlawful arrest
and detention, arraignment and subsequent remand in Afokang Prisons of His
Royal Highness, Edet Okon Ebita, the Clan Head of Ito South Clan in Odukpani Local
Government Area of Cross River State.
“It will be recalled that fully-armed Fulani
herdsmen, who are notorious for destroying human lives and properties wherever
they forcefully enter, had on December 5, 2017, invaded Mbiabong-Ito community
with their herds of cattle and in the process destroyed farmlands and crops of
the people with their cows in large number.
“The Fulani herdsmen were approached and asked
why they invaded the community and destroyed their farmlands.
“The Fulani herdsmen arrogantly refused to
dialogue with the elders and youths of Mbiabong Ito choosing rather to shoot
sporadically with sophisticated guns while making their herd of cattle to graze
freely and destructively on the farms of the Mbiabong Ito people.
“Ebita, who was not in his palace, on getting the
information of the invasion, quickly made contacts with security agencies that
night. It must be stated that none of the subsequent meetings facilitated by
the police and other agencies was ever mentioned in the alleged murder or missing
person raised by the Fulani herdsmen.”
The chiefs said the entire Ito people were
saddened by the development, while accusing the police of conniving with the
herdsmen to desecrate their traditional institution.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations
Officer in the state, Irene Ugbo, said the case was in court, adding that it
was the court, and not the police, that remanded the monarch in the prison
custody.
