Oshiri, another Ebonyi community clashes with Fulani herdsmen
Oshiri, another Ebonyi community clashes with Fulani herdsmen
People of Oshiri community in Onicha Local Government of Ebonyi State have clashed with Fulani cattle herders who have pitched tenets in Oshiri.
ALSO READ: Nigeria: Unease in Ebonyi Community as herdsmen threaten attack, demand ‘taxes’ from villagers
A statement sent to Discover Africa News stated that the Umorie village in Oshiri, who are mainly farmers, have been sleeping with one eye open since few years ago when Fulani herdsmen found their way into the village and pitched their tent there. Unease became a crisis few days ago when the villagers pressed the herdsmen to leave their community.
“There was actually a clash between Oshiri people and Fulani Herders today, 25/7/19. Following the incessant destruction of farm crops by Herders/ cattle, the people of Umuorie, Oshiri today, 25/7/19, mobilized their youths to peacefully evacuate the Fulani Herdsmen and their cow from their farmland (Egu Umuorie). On the process of evacuating them from their farmland, the Fulani Herders overpowered them using cutlasses and rifles.
“Umuorie people were viciously butchered with cutlass while others sustained various degrees of injuries, but no life was lost”, a source from the community said.
He said that currently, the situation has been arrested, as the Law Enforcement Agency and the Political Leaders have wedded into the matter.
“What happened today was indeed, a dangerous signal that Oshiri Ugoeze is sitting on a timed explosive missiles.
The leaders should as a matter of urgency, convoke a Security Meeting and trash this nonsense once and for all, as we cannot continue to be harassed, rapped and victimised in our own land. The time to do this, is now!
In July 2018, similar incident occurred in another Ebonyi community, Ufuezeraku village in Ugwulangwu community in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State where Fulani herdsmen seized a large potion of their farmlands and demanded ‘taxes’ from villagers.
ALSO READ: Nigeria: Unease in Ebonyi Community as herdsmen threaten attack, demand ‘taxes’ from villagers