Enugu monarch alleges military harassment

The traditional ruler of Mbulu Owo community in Enugu State, Igwe Godwin Arum, has sounded a grave alarm over the alleged persistent intimidation and abduction of his people by armed military personnel. In a direct appeal to the Nigerian Armed Forces leadership, Igwe Arum is demanding an immediate intervention to curb the actions of officers operating in the area, which he describes as brutal and inhumane.

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Residents of my community now fear going to their farms because of the presence of brutal military personnel. It is very unfair and inhumane for civilians to be treated like animals and criminals by the military for engaging in lawful activities on their ancestral land. What the military is doing in our community has to stop before it degenerates into something else. We cannot be on our land and live in fear anymore.

The monarch recounted a distressing incident on Wednesday when over 50 masked military men allegedly stormed farmlands in Owo, abducting eight able-bodied men. He emphasized that farming is the primary livelihood for his community and that the land in question has been cultivated for generations without dispute. The recent military actions, he stated, have instilled widespread fear, disrupted farming activities, and threatened food production in this agrarian region. The abducted individuals were taken to an unknown location without clear explanation, heightening tension and fear among residents who now worry about their safety even on their ancestral lands.

Igwe Arum's impassioned plea highlights a critical breakdown in civil-military relations and raises serious questions about the conduct of security forces. From the perspective of the Mbulu Owo community, this is not merely an isolated incident but a pattern of harassment that threatens their very existence and way of life. The monarch's call for the immediate release of the abducted farmers and a thorough investigation into the "dastardly act" by the Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Staff reflects a deep sense of injustice and a demand for accountability. He warns that the military's continued presence and actions could escalate the situation, urging them to withdraw from the communities before irreparable damage is done.

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The Nigerian Army has to leave Owo and Mbulu Owo communities. They need to stop these series of harassment on our people before it turns into something else. Right now, we are in the rainy season, but many farmers in Owo are uncertain about returning to their farms because of military brutality, as fear of further arrests continues to spread in our communities. It is time to get those involved in this arrest to quench the fire it could ignite before it is too late.

This situation, as reported by Vanguard, underscores a recurring issue in parts of Nigeria where communities feel targeted or harassed by security forces, often in the context of land disputes or perceived security threats. While official narratives may focus on counter-insurgency or maintaining order, local communities often experience these operations as oppressive. The monarch's statement, particularly his comparison of the treatment of civilians to that of "animals and criminals," conveys the profound level of distress and alienation felt by his people. The fact that a senior police officer confirmed the incident, albeit noting a lack of official notification, adds a layer of complexity, suggesting potential jurisdictional issues or a lack of coordination between security agencies.

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The police were not officially informed about the invasion or the alleged abduction until families of the victims reported the matter at the station.