Emeka Nnorom, an Okada rider from Agwa in Oguta LGA of Imo state, has been reportedly stabbed to death by some Fulani herdsmen.
The incident which happened on Saturday followed a fresh invasion of some suspected Fulani herders, who have occupied parts of the community, including Umuekpu village in same Oguta LGA.
According to reports, the herdsmen invaded the community since four years, destroying their crops and economic trees, thereby subjecting the people to untold hardship.
A community source said trouble started when the youths in the village saw the herders destroying their farmland with their cattle, and wanted to stop them, but the killer herdsmen continued.
“They rather engaged the youths in war of words. When the pressure was high, the herdsmen left the place and entered another location, where they met an Okada man, that was returning home, and macheted him to death.
“On hearing the sad news, the youths of the community mobilized for a reprisal, but could not find the herders, as they had run away after killing the innocent man. They carried the body home and quickly reported the matter to the police for investigation.
“Surprisingly, the herdsmen remobilized on Sunday night, stormed the community and started shooting sporadically in the air.
Another community source has this to say, “it happened around 8pm today, the killer herdsmen had mobilized heavily and laid ambushed in Umuekpu community. As i speak, they have occupied all the buses and houses in the community, causing the indigenes to flee the community in fear.”
It could be recalled that the same group of herdsmen, three years ago, murdered one Mr. Ozoemena Iriaka, from same village without any reason. He was said to have been killed on his way to his farm.
Meanwhile, many individuals and groups including Agwa Central Union (ACU) have condemned the dastardly act in strong terms, and described it as unfortunate.
Henry Okoye, the Imo state police spokesman, when contacted as at the time of filing this report, said that the command had yet to be briefed on matter.
