Following her lament on Eastern Security Network (ESN) activity at Isiukwuato, Abia State against Fulani Herdsmen, Aisha Yesufu has gotten a reply.

In an epic response to GBETU on Monday, Nnamdi Elekwachi believes “Aisha Yesufu is being less forthright.”

Mrs Yesufu had earlier stated that –

“This is absolutely not acceptable. We cannot have security outfits taking laws into their hands & maiming, killing & destroying properties. This is not acceptable.

“We must always remember no one has a monopoly of violence and intolerance and we can all be mad.”

But Elekwachi replied –

“Aisha Yusufu is being less forthright in her position! In the first place, the Fulani Herdsmen Terrorists unlawfully and forcefully occupied the forest. People and communities own those Forests which the Terrorists have occupied illegally with help of the Nigerian Armed Forces and Police.

“Owners of the land are rightly entitled to evict the trespassers who were asked to vacate the land but they refused.

“Open grazing which includes grazing animals on anothers land, is banned in Igbo Customary Law which forms part of the Laws of Nigeria.

“Customary Law is practiced and enforced by communities that practice the Custom. The customary law ban on open grazing applies to every resident of Igboland, including the indigenes. The law applies to all equally and therefore must apply to Fulani Herdsmen who come into any part of Igboland.

“If you a citizen wishes to live or settle in any community, then the person must observe and respect the Custom of the community.

“In Igboland it is against Customary Laws of property for any one to take over another’s property without consent.

“Hence the Fulani Herdsmen Terrorists blatantly violate both the Igbo Customary Laws banning open grazing AND the customary laws on property rights!

“It is the Community that enforces Customs or Customary Law. Police and Army have no involvement and have never had involvement in enforcement of Customary Law.

“ESN is made up of Igbo Youth. The various youth age-grades are the ‘Police” wing of Igbo Customary law charged with enforcement of that Cusyomary Law or customs.

“Therefore ESN is acting lawfully in enforcement of Igbo Customary Law in Igboland.

“Decree 24 of 1999 recognises Customary Law. Therefore both ESN and its enforcement actions are lawful.

“Added to violation of customary laws of property and ban on open grazing, is the criminal terrorist activities of kidnapping, raps, killings and destruction of property perpetrated by the Fulani Herdsmen Terrorists and facilitated by the Nigerian Army and Police in the area.

“These terrorist crimes committed by the Fulani Herdsmen Terrorists then raise the Customary Law defence of self-defence, including defence of self, defence of another and defence of property.

“ESN is therefore also acting lawfully within the Igbo Customary Law of Self Defrnce.

“I have deliberately left out the Common Law and Statutory law aspects of the issue, which also legitimise all actions taken by ESN to date.

“No group of Nigerians from any ethnic nation in Nigeria has the right to en mass invade by force of arms, the Territory of another ethnic nation of Nigeria and occupy their land by force!

“That the Armed Forces and Police Forces of Nigeria are directly involved and implicated in such forced occupation of indigenous lands by Fulani Herdsmen Terrorists, unequivocally proves that the Unitary Goverment in Abuja is responsible for ordering, directing and commanding the ongoing Fulani Jihad accross all of the Middle Belt and Southern Nigeria.

“Aisha Yousuf should address all the issues involved in the matter and not just express biased sentiment as she did.”