Niger Delta
Displaced Herdsmen In C’River Get Succour
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has donated relief materials worth millions of naira to the Internally-Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River.
The gesture came after appeals by Gov. Liyel Imoke of Cross River for assistance, as care for the displaced persons was eating deep into the economy of the state.
The relief materials distributed by NEMA included mattresses, bags of rice and beans, oil, toiletries, blankets, buckets and other sundry items.
Presenting the materials at the Utanga’s Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Obanliku, the Director-General of NEMA, Alhaji Muhammed Sami Sidi, described the scenario as pathetic, requiring urgent humanitarian intervention.
Sidi, who was represented by the Deputy Director (Relief), Mr Michael Adeyanju, said that it was worrisome to have such a massive movement of Nigerians under an unpalatable condition.
The director-general said that the displacement was caused by man-made frictions following communal clashes between two Nigerian communities.
He also observed that the upkeep of the displaced persons had negatively positioned both the state and the host communities in an unbearable economic frustration resulting in the intervention.
Sidi said that it was a matter of regret that such unhealthy development could not be nipped in the bud before its escalation to the present level.
He appealed to all agencies involved in crisis management to re-assess their performance so as to be able to guarantee peace and harmony in the country.
He said that it was his hope that the prompt humanitarian gesture of the state government, which had reduced tension would be sustained.
Sidi said that efforts were being made to urgently resolve the crisis and return the IDPs back to their home in Katsina-Ala in Benue.
He also lauded Imoke for his dexterity in crisis management and applauded the host community for their receptive and hospitable disposition.
He appealed to the host community not to be tired of displaying their humanitarian spirit as the Federal Government appreciated their efforts.
In his reaction, Mr Vincent Aquah, the Zonal Coordinator, Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), said that the relief materials would go a long way in cushioning the effect of the mass exodus of herdsmen.
Aquah, who was represented by SEMA’s Disaster Assessor, Miss Peggy Inyang, described the prompt response of NEMA to the plight of the IDPs in the state as apt and commendable.
He restated that the facilities of the host communities had been stressed beyond the coping capacity of the indigenes who are about 90 per cent farmers.
He said that almost all the arable land is being grazed by cattle rearers, who fled to the area, thereby hindering farmers from cultivating their crops.
Aquah said that the farmers, were, under the circumstance displaced, which foretells future starvation and general want as planting of crops this year is heavily hampered.
He, therefore, appealed for an urgent resolution of the crisis in Benue to enable the herdsmen return in harmony and peace.
Aquah also said that Imoke had remained very passionate in handling the exodus of the Fulani herdsmen into the communities without prior notice.
Also speaking, Mr Benjamin Ambe, Chairman, Obanliku Local Government Area, commended the Federal Government for its prompt response to the plight of the people.
Responding on behalf of the IDPs, Alhaji Wahilishi Abdulahi, their spokesman, said their condition was pathetic, and hoped that peace would soon return so that they could go back to Katsina-Ala.
Abdulahi appealed to Nigerians to see their profession as contributory to the economy of the country and called for understanding.
History was made on Wednesday 17th June, 2026 when the Okey Onuchuku Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies building was handed over to Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE).
Speaking during the hand over ceremony, which attracted an array of personalities from various works of life, the 13th Pro-Chancellor and Governing Council Chairman of IAUE, Chief Chinyere Igwe, commended the Vice Chancellor of IAUE, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, for giving back to the University with the institute’s building project.
While affirming that Government cannot do it all, he encouraged individuals, corporate organizations, institutional partners to ensure the growth of University education in Nigeria.
He praised Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) for sustaining University Education in Nigeria, and called for good initiatives and support “that will not only benefit the University, but put IAUE on the map of academic excellence in Nigeria and beyond.”
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Onuchuku, expressed gratitude to his wife, Mrs. Chika Onuchuku, and family for all the support given for the vision achieved.
He also thanked his close associates, political friends, well-wishers, and others who donated generously towards the building project.
“The growth of Universities all over the world”, Professor Onuchuku said, “comes from personal efforts of individuals, alumni associations and others.”
He noted that donations as being witnessed is the best way to go and called on all to invest in the Nigerian education system and immortalize their names with worthwhile donations and contributions..
The Okey Onuchuku Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies building, he further stated, “is donated as a Professorial Chair with the Dean of Postgraduate School, Professor Chibuzor Chile Nwobueze, also a Professor of Peace Studies, as the occupant of the Professorial Chair.
Giving his address, the Director, Okey Onuchuku Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, Professor Kingdom Elendu Ohia Nwaenyi, lauded Professor Okechuku Onuchuku for sacrificing his hard earned salaries, allowances and funds raised from two volumes of textbooks in his honour and titled “Perspectives on Nigeria’s Development”, launched on his 60th birthday.
He noted that the project is the first legacy to be accomplished by any serving Vice Chancellor in the institution.
Professor Nwaenyi stated that the Institute mounted five programmes: Peace and Conflict Studies; Peace Building and Development; Peace Building and Security Studies; Peace Building and Conflict Management; and Peace Education.
The institute, he explained, has birthed over fifty students running programmes in Postgraduate Diploma, M.A, M.Sc, M. Phil, and PhD.
Thirty students are in the PhD programme, fifteen are admitted into the Masters and M.Phil, and eight in Postgraduate Diploma Programme.
He expressed hoped that the Institute would check litigation and provide alternative dispute resolution.
In a vote of thanks, the Chairman, Okey Onuchuku Peace and Conflict Studies and Dean of Postgraduate School, Professor Chibuzor Chile Nwobueze, thanked God for His grace and enablement.
He prayed for the donor and Vice Chancellor of IAUE, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, and further expressed his gratitude to Professor Isaac Olawale Albert, the third most cited Peace Scholar in the world, for his collaboration in developing a world class curriculum.
While thanking all who supported and celebrated with the University in this regard, Professor Nwobueze assured the public that the Okey Onuchuku institute of Peace and Conflict Studies will emerge as a centre of excellence, contributing meaningfully to scholarship, policy formulation, community engagement and the promotion of peaceful coexistence within Nigeria, Africa and the global Community.
The Institute, he stated, is willing to partner with the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP) in line with its mandate to promote peace studies, Peace building, Conflict Management and sustainable development.
The institute has over four lecture halls with sixty to one hundred and twenty capacity, a befitting conference hall, offices for staff and a library.
A donation of one million naira was made during the event for the best two graduating students of the institute by Barrister Nyema Wagbara, the Leader of Dynamic Development Club of Port Harcourt based in Rumuolumeni.
Each of the two best graduating students will get the sum of five hundred thousand naira.
The event featured goodwill messages from Professor Isaac Albert, Professor Alwell Nteegah, the Chairman of Society for Peace Studies and Practice, Rivers State Chapter, Dr. Benjamin Ibietonye.
Dr. Emem Nyewene presented the goodwill message of the Society for Peace Studies and Practice National.
Others who gave goodwill messages are Ambassador Green Isaac, the Country Director, Relief International Africa, and Comrade Levi Zachariah George, Chairman Postgraduate Students Association.
The event also featured rendition for Professor Okechuku Onuchuku by Dr Maria Abidiak.
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