Panic In Enugu Community as Over 200 Fulani Herdsmen Seek to Settle in with Their Cows

Panic In Enugu Community as Over 200 Fulani Herdsmen Seek to Settle in with Their Cows

Residents of the Agu Obodo, Obeagwu Ozalla community in Nkanu West local government area of Enugu State on Monday staged a protest over the attempt made by over 200 Fulani herdsmen to relocate to the community with their families and cows.

The protesting community members told newsmen that about five trucks of herdsmen arrived the community over the weekend without any prior notification, forcing some of the residents to flee in fear of an impending attack.

The community leaders on Monday asked the herdsmen to leave the area within three days to allow community members return to their farms which they had abandoned out of fear.

President-General of the Ozalla Development Union (ODU), Chief Afam Ani, who led the protesting women, youths and traditional rulers on Monday stated that the herdsmen’s arrival had forced some people living nearest to the farm settlements to take refuge in other parts of the town.

Vanguard reports 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.

Chief Ani said they had informed security agencies and officials of the local and state governments to help them evict the herdsmen.

The community leader cited an ugly experience the community had with the herdsmen in 2012, when they allegedly attacked, raped and destroyed properties in the community.

The President-General however disclosed that the herdsmen had agreed to vacate the community within three days even though community leaders were still pleading with security agencies to help enforce the agreement.

Suspected Fulani herdsmen have in the past carried out devastating attacks in different parts of Enugu state and other farming communities across the country, leaving behind a trail of deaths and rape stories.