Fear, Panic Grip Residents as Truck-Loads of Cattle Herdsmen Arrive Enugu Community

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Tuesday, October 25th, 2016

By IGNATIUS OKPARA, Enugu
ENUGU NIGERIA, (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – People of Agu Obodo, Obeagwu Ozalla in Nkanu West council Area of Enugu State have staged a protest over the arrival and settlement of no fewer than 200 herdsmen and their cows in the locality.

The community had during the protest insisted that the herdsmen must go “because of their bad record in Enugu state.

They said the community was overwhelmed by over five trucks that off-loaded the herdsmen, their families and cows in the area.

The protesting community however asked the herdsmen to leave their land within three days, as the people can no longer go to their farms because of fear.

Reacting to the development, President-General of Ozalla Development Union, ODU, Chief Afam Ani, who led the protesters made up of women, youths and traditional rulers, said the herdsmen arrived the area weekend.

He said their arrival caused serious anxiety and panic in the town, as the people living close to farm settlements have abandoned the areas.

According to him, the development has forced the people to desert their homes and seek refuge in other parts of the town.

Ani added 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.

He 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.

A traditional ruler of one of the autonomous communities in Ozalla, Igwe C. O. Okafor, described the development as embarrassing, adding that they were not consulted by either the herdsmen or by any proxy before the invasion, insisting that they are not welcomed to the area.