The people of Egbeleli, Awgu Council of Enugu State, have called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, to save them from killer herdsmen that have invaded their area.
The community, under the auspices of Awgu Egbeleli Development Union (AEDU), stated that the invaders have killed two people, injured many, burnt motorcycles and bicycles belonging to members of the community. They alleged that they are being threatened not to enter their farmlands any longer to harvest crops.
President General of AEDU, Prof. Reko Okoye, who jointly addressed journalists, yesterday, alongside the President, Awgu Town Youth Association, Oba Nwankwo, and village heads, said they want government’s intervention to avoid taking laws into their hands.
He lamented that their people could not go to their farms any longer due to fear of molestation and attack by herders, who waylay their women in the farm, rape them, lay ambush on their people, kidnap them and demand for ransoms.
Okoye appealed to governments to intervene quickly before herdsmen would sack them from their homes.
He said the situation has become so bad that people could no longer gather for meetings in their villages, due to the fear of herders’ attacks.
Okoye said the incident was appropriately reported to the police, the Commissioner of Police, the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies in the state.
Nwankwo, in his contribution, said: “February 17 and 18 were blackout for Awgu Egbeleli Community, especially in Olori, Obovia and Amaovia. We got information about Fulani herdsmen, how they attacked our women, youths and men on our farmlands. They took over everywhere; in Awgu Egbeleli, we are farmers; we do farming to feed our families and train our children.
“Nobody goes to the farm any longer; nothing is happening here today, and there is hunger everywhere. So, we are sad that herdsmen came and took over lands from us. So, we are calling on federal and state governments to come to our aid.”
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