Anambra lawmaker decries invasion of constituency by herdsmen

LAWMAKER representing Ayamelum constituency in the Anambra House of Assembly, Mr Uchenna Okafor, has urged Governor Willie Obiano to intervene in the crisis between farmers and herdsmen in his constituency.

Okafor who is the House Committee Chairman on Power and Domestic Water Development told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN in Awka on Wednesday that similar appeal had been sent to the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Garba Umar.

He said that his constituency was boiling with the invasion of herdsmen since December 2 and needed serious monitoring by security agents to avoid a possible clash.

“I am making this urgent call for the appropriate bodies to quickly come to our rescue before it degenerates to loss of lives.

“Because my people in protecting their property may do anything within their reach to ensure that none of their property is taken away or destroyed.

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“The committee set up for resolving issues between herdsmen and farmers should quickly go into action to avoid any disaster.

“In the past, herdsmen used to seek traditional rulers attention before coming to their communities but it is no longer so and the community will resist any move to trespass in their property.

“The brewing tension due to the crash between the herdsmen and farmers in the area has led to the loss of properties,’’ he said.

The lawmaker noted that the invasion of the herders into his constituents’ farmlands was capable of causing hunger and loss of lives.

According to Okafor, the destruction already meted on their farmlands and other property by the herdsmen were so alarming, prompting the farmers to harvest their agricultural produce early and to run away from home.

He said the unfortunate incident happened barely some months the area was recovered from flooding and if not nipped, might scare their indigenes from returning home for the yuletide.