Abia community protest Fulani herdsmen menace
Thousands of men, women and youths of Isiugwu Ohafia in Abia state, at the weekend, matched through the length and breadth of their community, including the Ohafia local government council headquarters, protesting the menace of suspected Fulani herdsmen, last Wednesday night.
The protesters, carrying leaves, palm fronds and placards with different inscriptions and singing Ohafia war songs, said they were particularly grieved that even a suspect the community caught “disappeared” and escaped.
One of the protesters, Mr. Akanu Okey Kalu Ndukwe, who claimed to be the community’s youth leader, said they were on peaceful demonstration to make the local government chairman realize the havoc cattle is causing them in harvesting their farm produce, stating that they were going to the of the Divisional Police Station in Ohafia to also let him know that cattle is allowing them to eat the fruit of their labour.
He said they had the same issue four years ago, when someone was even wounded by the Fulani herdsmen and they took him to the police.
“We have reported to the police and we also reported to the Army Barracks in Ohafia, and nothing was done about it”, refuting that there was no accord signed with the Fulani community.
“The same thing has happened again last Wednesday. The Fulani herdsmen entered into our farms with their cattle which destroyed and ate our farm products, and destroyed our rice farms.”
Also narrating their ordeal to Daily Times, Gabriel Osu Emmanuel, who said he is the spiritual leader of the community, explained that “at 2 am on Wednesday night, the Hausa/Fulani attacked us in our Isiugwu Ohafia community.
“They destroyed all our cassava, rice, everything and this is the period of rice harvest. They caused anguish throughout the community, and since then, the community could not sleep.
“We were privileged to report to the police in order to secure peace. We arrested one Fulani young man we caught red handed at the spot. Unfortunately, when we got to the police station, the young man escaped and rolled into a pit and disappeared. We thank God that the policemen came there and saw the damage – the cassava, the rice and that is why we are demonstrating to express our feelings to the government so that they can come and help us.
“I have a 78 years old woman whose farm was totally destroyed and who has been threatening to kill herself over the nigh because she has no hope of living apart from her farm”, Emmanuel lamented.
According to him, they have gone to the local government chairman who promised he will report to the state government, as well as having gone to the police, who also sent some officers to go and see the level of destruction of their farms and ascertain how it happened.
“Why we are lamenting is for our brothers, Ndigbo to come to come to our aid. Come and see how the aged are crying over what they have been farming since January through December have been lavished as they cannot now afford to buy a cloth to wear and cannot feed their children.
“Is it at this period of economic recession that we will be suffering like this? We are calling on the government to come to our aid, especially those close to the powers that be. You should not allow us to die.
When contacted, the Ohafia DPO, who was seen discussing with a top Abia state government security officials referred newsmen to the State Command PPRO for official comment.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Abia State Command, Nta Ogonnaya Nta, confirmed the incident.
Reacting, the Ohafia LGA Transition Committee Chairman, Sampson Anagha, said the issue at stake is a state government matter, stating, “they are handling it.”
Speaking on the issue, the Enachioken IV of Abiriba Kingdom, Eze Kalu Kalu Ogbu, said the problem of herdsmen is all over Nigeria and not unique, stating that traditional rulers in the LGA have been suing for peace and are working hard on how to stop the menace of the cattle rearers in the area.
He expressed his hopes that the state government will stem the tide, while urging then federal government to encourage cattle owners to establish ranches personally and not as the responsibility of the government.
According to him, as is done in other nations who also rear cattle and other animals, animals should not be allowed to roam the streets in Nigeria.
