There has been unrest in Agbonchia community in Eleme local government, Rivers State, since Saturday, following a reported invasion of Fulani herdsmen in the community’s farmlands, and assault upon residents.
Some of the residents had begun leaving the area for fear of the killer herdsmen. The latter were said to have also raped women.
Obinwannem News gathered that there was a protest, Friday, staged by the residents of Eleme; mostly women, calling upon the attention of the State and federal government.
“Right now, farms in Agbonchia have been taken over by Fulani herdsmen. Our women are crying in the farms. To return home is almost impossible. Everyone is angry. We are protesting. This is not a fable. I am there now witnessing this assault.
“All the Agbonchia men and women both young and old have decided not to go to work. We are marching in our numbers to the Eleme Local Government Area headquarters to protest and ask the Fulani herdsmen to leave our land. We started marching since 8am,” a resident had explained.
The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu had directed the Eastern Security Network (ESN) personnels to “wage a war against the Fulani herdsmen”.
“In response to the cries and yearnings of our terrified mothers in Eleme Igweocha in Rivers State, I have this evening instructed the High Command of Eastern Security Network to move into the area forth and to rid the farmers of Fulani terror herdsmen,” Kanu said.
Just yesterday (Monday), despite the State governor Nyesom Wike’s threats against the ESN, and IPOB, a source confirmed that the personnels security network were mobilising into the forests of the Eleme local government area, Rivers State,to evict Fulani herdsmen from their farm settlements.
“Since the Rivers State government and the security agencies do not want to be responsible, we have no option but to rely on the ESN,” the source said. It also noted that residents had been asked to vacate the farms until the herdsmen have been cleared; “in order not to be caught in the crossfire, we are avoiding the farms for now. When the Fulani have been sent away, everyone will return.”
Mazi Ozoemela Chikwas reporting, Obinwannem News
