About 1000 cows belonging to suspected herdsmen have invaded Ngwu autonomous community in Uzuakoli , Bende LGA of Abia State , destroying multi-million naira worth of crops.
The invasion occurred on Friday, while the indigenes of the community were at home observing their no-farm day. Surprisingly, the herdsmen allegedly uprooted cassava and yam tubers planted in the farms and stole heaps of cassava tubers already gathered for sale, and fed them to their cattle.
Narrating the devastation to newsmen in his Palace, the traditional ruler of Ngwu autonomous community, HRH, Eze Joseph Okorie cried out that his subjects may die of hunger following the destruction of their only source of survival—farms. He explained that because of low government presence in Ngwu, his subjects only survive through farming and some other economic trees.
“Unfortunately, these Fulani herdsmen have taken over our farms, destroying and looting everything our people have laboured for.
Before this latest attack, they had severally invaded our farms and homes with their herds of cattle, destroying our crops.”
The Ngwu 1 went on, “Most of the time, women come to my place crying for help, informing me that the large-sized farms they cultivated had been destroyed by herdsmen.
My own farms were also destroyed “, said Eze Okorie.” Any time my people meet these people with their cows destroying farms, the herdsmen chase my people away with guns and other weapons.
They attack usually invade our farms on Sundays or the days we observe no-farm day.”
Flanked by the President-General of the community, Apostle Chimezie Ugorji, traditional prime minister, Chief Chilasa Kanu Imo , the royal father disclosed that his community recalled that the menace started about 10 years ago, adding that several Save-our-Soul letters they wrote to Abia State government, Abia House of Assembly, Bende LGA authorities , the Army, federal government agencies did not bring any solution .
He further lamented that despite his meeting with the leader of Northern community in Umuahia, HRH Alhaji Yaro Danlandi where the Northern leader promised to caution his subjects, the attacks have rather , allegedly increased. He added that protests by women of the land have also not deterred the invaders from leveling up peoples’ farms in Ngwu Uzuakoli.
He explained that his people have long remained non-violent while the youths have always been restrained from avenging the attacks, but warned that the peaceful disposition of his community should not be misconstrued to weakness.
“We don’t want our land to be turned to Benue. We don’t want these herdsmen and their cattle in our farms again. Abia State government should immediately act now and save us”, Eze Okorie bemoaned. Eze Okorie wondered why the Abia State government and other relevant security agents in the State would play the ostrich as Ngwu Uzuakoli indigenes are being impoverished in poverty and hunger by herdsmen, regularly.
Some victims of the attack, later conducted News Echo round their devastated farms with tears in their eyes.
Several vegetables like pumpkin leaves and other crops that are ready for harvesting, were equally eaten up.
Some of the victims like Elder Sunday Asaga, Mr Innocent Chijioke, Akabuokwu Nsukwe, Chimezie Ugorji and over 70 women, including widows called for immediate end to the menace. They also demanded compensation to the tune of N30 million for their destroyed crops.
