By Ochuko Akuopha

OLEH—APPREHENSION has gripped residents of Ossissa community, Ndokwa East Local Government Area, Delta State, following alleged sporadic gunshots in their farmlands and threats of attack by suspected herdsmen.

The people of the community had over the last few years, been at loggerheads with the herdsmen whom they accused of destroying their farmlands and unleashing mayhem on their indigenes.

It was gathered that the herdsmen had been spoiling for a showdown with the community over the last three days, forcing the farmers in the area to flee from their farmlands.

A notable indigene, Chief, E. O. Olisenekwu, said the herdsmen “whose leaders have left Ossissa have been attacking farmers since Saturday and report is that they brought some of their men from Asaba and left them at a camp in Umuleke-Ossissa to supplement their attack on Ossissa people.”

Another indigene who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “It started when the people went to their farms to begin the planting season and met some Fulani herdsmen in their farms. They asked the herdsmen to leave their bush that they did not want them in their land. They said they cannot live with the herdsmen anymore because the herdsmen killed one of the youths of the community last year and the atrocities they have been metting on our people. Immediately, crisis broke out and they started fighting our people with cutlasses and sticks.

“Yesterday, (Monday) the community people began to hear gunshots in their bush and those that went to their farms ran away. The community then mobilized into the bush to chase the herdsmen away. In the process, men of Dragon 22 and 23 of the state police command came and joined the herdsmen to fight our people in their own farmlands. The police later claimed that our people were thieves. As we speak now, our people whose major occupation is farming cannot go to their farms for fear of attack by the herdsmen.”

Speaking yesterday on the development, Chairman of Ndokwa East Local Government council, Mrs. Nkechi Chukwura, said several agreements had been reached with the herdsmen to move out of the community in the interest of peace but they had refused to comply with the directives.

“Instead they are chasing the people from their farmlands with guns. I appeal to my people to remain calm and not take the law into their hands. The state government is working relentlessly to resolve the problem.”

Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, Mr. Andrew Aniamaka, said no report had been received on a clash between the herdsmen and the community.

Reiterating that the police could not work against the community as claimed by the people, he said: “Anything in respect of herdsmen issues with communities, we are on top of it. The police are doing everything possible to ensure that it does not degenerate into crisis.”