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| Herdsmen with their livestock |
*People dwelling in Ozalla community in Enugu have protested
against the settlement of the herdsmen in their community *The community
dwellers have asked the herdsmen to leave their land within three days as their
people can no longer go to their farms *The president-general of Ozalla
development union, (ODU) Chief Afam Ani, says the herdsmen have agreed to
vacate the community within three days
People dwelling in Ozalla
community in Enugu no longer go to their farms following the arrival of
herdsmen.
Media
report continues:
Enugu
state has been unsettled following the arrival and settlement of over 200
herdsmen and their cows at Agu Obodo, Obeagwu Ozalla in Nkanu west local
government area of the state.
People
dwelling in Ozalla community yesterday, Monday, October 24, protested against
the settlement of the herdsmen, noting that community members were overwhelmed
by over five trucks that off-loaded the herdsmen, their families and cows.
The
protesters asked the herdsmen to leave their land within three days as their
people can no longer go to their farms.
According
to Vanguard, the president-general of Ozalla development union, (ODU) Chief
Afam Ani, who led the protesting women, youths and traditional rulers
yesterday, said the herdsmen’s arrival caused considerable anxiety and panic in
the town.
He
said his people living nearest to farm settlements have
abandoned their farms and dwellings and have taken refuge in other parts of the
town for fear of being attacked by herdsmen.
Ani
told newsmen that the herdsmen claimed they were evicted from their previous
settlements at Maryland in Enugu south local government area and decided to
resettle in Ozalla.
The
community leader said the herdsmen said they had informed security agencies,
the local and state governments to help them evict the herdsmen, citing an ugly
experience the community had with the herdsmen in 2012, when they attacked,
raped and destroyed properties in the community.
Though,
Ani said the herdsmen agreed to vacate the community within three days, he
pleaded with the security agencies to help enforce the agreement.
Speaking
on the issue, a traditional ruler of one of the autonomous communities in
Ozalla, Igwe C. O. Okafor, described the development as embarrassing.
He
complained that that they were not consulted by either the herdsmen or by any
proxy before the invasion.
Video:
Herdsmen attack in Enugu
In
a related development, the secretary to the Delta state government (SSG),
Festus Agas, was held hostage by protesting Ossissa women on Monday, October
24, on the busy Asaba-Kwale-Ozoro-Warri road.
The
women numbering over 2000, were protesting the harassment, killing of their
people, the raping of women and destruction of their farms by Fulani herdsmen,
Sahara Reporters reports.
They barricaded the road as they advanced to attack Agas in his official vehicle, preventing the SSG’s convoy, which included several other state officials, from moving on until the issues were addressed.
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