Imo Police, Communities Move to End Farmer-Herder Clashes, Kidnapping Crisis

The Imo State Police Command has brought together community leaders, traditional rulers, government representatives and security stakeholders in a renewed effort to address farmer-herder clashes, kidnapping and other security challenges affecting parts of the state.

The stakeholders meeting, held in Owerri on Wednesday, focused on finding lasting solutions to recurring security concerns in Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta and Owerri West Local Government Areas, where communities have faced challenges linked to criminal activities, land disputes and threats to livelihoods.

The engagement brought together traditional rulers, community leaders, religious organisations, youth and women groups, vigilante commanders, representatives of the Hausa/Fulani community, government officials and divisional police officers from the affected areas.

Representing the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Audu Garba Bosso, the Area Commander of Ohaji/Egbema Area Command, ACP Emeka Ezeibe, said the police remained committed to intelligence-driven policing, early intervention and stronger partnerships with communities.

Ezeibe urged residents to provide credible information to security agencies, stressing that criminality should not be associated with any ethnic or religious group.

“Crime has no ethnic or religious affiliation,” he said, while encouraging communities to work closely with security agencies to identify and prevent criminal activities before they escalate.

The meeting examined several security challenges affecting communities, including alleged destruction of farmlands by grazing cattle, kidnapping for ransom, threats against farmers and the wider impact of insecurity on agricultural activities and local economies.

Participants noted that while there had been improvements in the security situation across parts of Imo State, continued cooperation between communities, government authorities and security agencies remained necessary to sustain peace.

Stakeholders also praised the Imo State Government for strengthening community security initiatives through the establishment of grassroots vigilante structures, describing the efforts as contributing to improved security in several areas.

Among the key resolutions reached at the meeting was the need for herders operating within communities to avoid cultivated farmlands, while authorities and community leaders agreed on the importance of registering and profiling herders to improve accountability and security monitoring.

The stakeholders also resolved to strengthen collaboration with security agencies in the fight against kidnapping and other criminal activities.

To ensure continuous dialogue and quick response to emerging security concerns, a committee made up of representatives from communities in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area was inaugurated during the meeting.

The committee is expected to coordinate engagements involving communities, herders and security agencies while promoting peaceful coexistence.

Speaking at the meeting, the Senior Special Assistant to the Imo State Governor on Northern Affairs, Suleiman Ibrahim, assured stakeholders that the Hausa/Fulani community remained committed to peace and would not tolerate criminal elements operating under any guise.

He stressed that responsible members of the community would continue to support security efforts and cooperate with authorities to maintain stability.

The meeting concluded with stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to the “See Something, Say Something” campaign, urging residents to report suspicious activities and provide useful intelligence to security agencies.

The Imo Police Command said it would continue deploying proactive policing strategies and community-based partnerships to address security threats and improve safety across the state.