Imo community laments as herdsmen destroy farmlands, crops

The people of Obosa Assa community in the Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State have decried the continued occupation and destruction of their farmland and crops by Fulani herdsmen.

Speaking to Sunday PUNCH in separate interviews on Thursday, the people who are predominantly farmers, urged Governor Hope Uzodinma and the state Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Berde, to come to their rescue.

They said since March, herdsmen had continued to occupy their farmland and destroy their crops, causing famine in the community.

The Chairman of Obosa Assa Community Security Committee, Monday Oparaji, a retired police officer, said the herders had increased tension in the community with their continuous occupation of their farmland.

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Oparaji stated, “We call on the state government to avert bloodshed in our community by directing the herdsmen to vacate our farmland. We are restraining our youths from confronting them. Our wives and daughters can no longer go to the farm for fear of being molested or raped.”

Another resident, Pastor Reuben Opara, said their wives and daughters no longer go to farm because of the fear of being raped. He added that the herders had been acting with so much impunity and scaring the people with their guns and other weapons.

The community leader said, “We are calling on the state government and security agencies to come to our rescue. Our people are predominantly farmers but the ugly thing is that we no longer go to our farms because of the annoying occupation of our farmland and the destruction of our crops by the rampaging Fulani herdsmen.

“Since March, the herdsmen have been occupying our farmland, harassing and maiming people. They have also been raping our women and daughters. They have been feeding their cattle with our crops. As a result, hunger has come upon us because we are farmers. Nobody is ready to go to farm because of the fear of the herders who have taken over our farmland.”

Also, a resident, Chief Luke Obiarije, said the locals were living at the mercy of the herders who had launched all manner of onslaughts on them. He called on the government to immediately order the herders to vacate their farmland.

The police public relations officer in the state, Henry Okoye, said the command had zero tolerance for unlawful activities. He however asked the residents to maintain peace and channel their grievances to the appropriate quarters.