By Anayo Okoli & Francis Igata

UMUAHIA-THE activities of Fulani herdsmen in some communities have become a source of great worry to the people of the South East zone. The people are worried that Fulani herdsmen have continued to kill, maim and rape women in most of the routes where they pass with their cattle for grazing wondering why the security agencies turn blind eyes to complaints from victims of robbery and rape committed by the suspected Fulani herdsmen.

Fulani-herdsman

Investigations by the South East Voice showed that the suspected Fulani herdsmen had maimed and killed villagers in Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia and Imo States among others in last few months without any of the security agencies arresting the culprits.

It was revealed that most of the herdsmen carry sophisticated weapons like AK 47 and Pump Action double –barreled riffles as they moved about with their cattle and could attack, rob or maim people at will.

In Abia State, there had been reports of deadly clashes between the herdsmen and communities in Ozuakoli, Bende Local Government Area and Ebem and Akanu in Ohafia and Umuchieze in Umunneochi areas among others. The clashes were occasioned by allegations by the rural farmers that the herdsmen take their cattle into their farms for grazing where they damage crops.

Also, in most of the places where the Fulani herdsmen had settled, they had always colonized such areas by claiming ownership, leading to violent clashes with the rural people. Besides farmlands in rural communities where the breeders illegally colonize as grazing grounds, the aggressive nature of the Fulani herdsmen is also said to be of great concern to the people.

A community leader in Ohafia, Chief Kalu Eze Kalu who spoke to South East Voice on the issue, expressed concern that the South East Governors’ Forum, SEGF,had not articulated any policy aimed at saving their people, despite what was happening in neighbouring states like Benue and Plateau and Nasarawa, where some tribes had been completely wiped out by the Fulani herdsmen, who claim ownership of lands in places where thy were strangers.

‘’They are always armed with dangerous weapons, including AK47 riffles, charms, daggers laced with poison and machetes and are ready to attack the farm owners at the least provocation. ‘’In Ozuakoli, a man popularly known in the areas as Ajambele was attacked last year when he confronted Fulani cattle breeders when he met their cattle destroying his farm in the Over Rail area of the community.

‘’The cattle breeder was said to have used a sharp dagger to rip open Ajambele’s stomach with his intestines gushing out. He was rushed to the hospital where he luckily survived. ‘’The cases of invasion of farmlands in Ebem and Akanu communities nearly resulted in bloodbath but for the wisdom of the leaders in the community who reported the matter to the authorities.

‘’The case was so serious that the Abia State government had to intervene to restrain the youths in the communities from retaliating. It set up a peace committee that quelled the then imminent crises,” he said and prayed the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, rtd, to assist in bringing the alleged criminal activities of the Fulani herdsmen under control.

Anger trails Fulani herdsmen activities in Enugu. Also in Enugu State communities have been grumbling over the alleged inability of security agencies to curtail the criminal activities of suspected Fulani herdsmen who had robbed, raped and killed some of their victims apart from destroying their farm lands.

From Agbakwe, Ette, Akpakume, Ebe, Opanda, Nara, Ibagwa, Ukana, Oruku, Isi -Ogbo communities where activities of herdsmen have been pronounced, farmers in the area literally live in fear of engaging in farming activities as the herdsmen have forcefully acquired massive farm lands belonging to the people for grazing activities and settlement.

In Nkpologu community, Uzo – Uwani Local Government Area last December, suspected Fulani robbers killed one Veronica Ezugwu, 23, who hailed from Agum village in the area. Ezugwu was returning to the village for her traditional marriage and the New Year when she was shot inside a commercial bus by the suspected Fulani robbers who were operating in the area.

She later died at the Annunciation Hospital, Emene, Enugu where she was rushed to in January, having sustained severe gunshot wounds during the attack.