Some residents of Imo state have raised the alarm over incessant attacks by herdsmen.
According to Vanguard, the latest attack occurred in Okigwe LGA of the state, where some persons were allegedly murdered on their farms by the herdsmen.
In a protest letter signed by their chairman, Elder C.I. Ugbaja and the secretary, Evangelist Victor Asodike, the people of the area lamented the attacks, saying they have been made strangers in their own land.
They said that fear of herdsmen attacks have led farmers to abandon their farms while their farm produce, which are due for harvesting, are left to rot away.
According to them, the communities unable to harvest their products include: Ikpa Amaeze Ogii to Ikpa Ogu/Amukwa Ezinnachi, Ope, Ikpa Ora, Aku, Umuowaibu, Ihube, Ndinjoku, Ndindubuisi, Umuka and others.
The community people identified those to have lost their lives in herdsmen attacks as: one Mr. Godfrey Osuafor, from Egbuchi of Ugwuntu Ihitte Ihube and Mr. Modestus Onwubuariri from Ugwuaku.
In reaction to the protest letter, the Imo State House of Assembly reportedly moved a motion directing the Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, to find a permanent solution to the crisis.
“We call on the governor to direct the Bureau for Peace and Conflict Resolution to investigate the activities of Fulani herdsmen in Okigwe LGA and other parts of the state with regards to their relationship with the host communities, by amongst other procedures, calling a meeting of all concerned stakeholders with the view to ensuring harmonious co- existence between the herdsmen and the members of the host communities,” read a resolution from the assembly on the matter.
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