… Community, stakeholders condemn attack, want Govt, security agencies to intervene
There is palpable fear and tension in Agwa, Oguta local government area of Imo State, following the reported attack launched on the Community by armed herdsmen which led to the alleged killing of one Emeka Nnorom, an Okada rider on Sunday.
The herdsmen were said to have been operating in some parts of the Clan, particularly Umuekpu Village since the past four years, destroying their crops and economic trees, thereby subjecting the people to untold hardship.
A source from the Community, said that trouble started when youths of the Village saw the herdsmen destroying their farm land, and wanted to stop them, but the killer herdsmen continued. They rather engaged the youths in exchange of words. When the pressure was high, the herdsmen left the place and entered another direction, where they met an Okada man that was returning home, and killed him.
On hearing the sad news, the youths of the Village, in a swift reaction, went to the place for a reprisal attack, but could not see the herdsmen, as they ran away after killing the innocent man. They carried the body of their slain brother home and reported the matter to the Police for investigation.
According to the source, the herdsmen, who were said to have mobilized heavily, storm the village in the night, shooting sporadically.
His words, “Around 8pm today, the 21st day of May, 2023, the killer Fulani herdsmen had mobilized heavily and Stormed Umuekpu Community, shooting indiscriminately. Right now, they have occupied all the bushes and houses in Umuekpu Agwa, while the people have deserted the Village”
It could be recalled that the same group of herders, three years ago, murdered one Mr Ozoemele Iriaka, from the same Village, without any reason. He was killed on his way to the farm.
Meanwhile, many individuals and groups, including the Agwa Central Union (ACU), have condemned the dastardly act in strong terms, describing it as unfortunate.
The people, who called on the Imo State government and security agencies to come to their rescue by intervening in the matter as quick as possible, said that the herdsmen should be forced out of the Community to enable the People recover their farm land.
