protest As 200 Herdsmen Storms A Community In Enugu

People dwelling in Ozalla community protested yesterday Monday, 24 October over the arrival and settlement of over 200 herdsmen and their cow at Agu Obodo, Obeagwu Ozalla in Nkanu west local government area of Enugu State. The People noted thay the community members were overwhelmed by over five trucks  that off-loaded the herdsmen, their families and cows.


The protesters asked the herdsmen to leave their land within three days as their people can no longer go to their farms.  The president-general of Ozalla development Union (ODU) Chief Afam Ani, who led the protesting women, youth and traditional rulers yesterday, said the herdsmen's arrival caused considerable anxiety and panic in the town as the peopple living nearest to farm settlements have abandoned their farms and dewellings and have taken refuge in other parts of the town for fear of being attacked by herdsmen. He told newsmen that the herdsmen claimed they were evicted from their previous settlement at Maryland in Enugu south local government area and decided to resettle in Ozalla. The community leader said they had informed security agencies, the local and state government to help them evict the herdsmen, citing an ugly experience the community had with the herdsmen in 2012, when they atacked, raped and destoryed properties inthe community. Though, Ani said the herdsmen agreed to vacate the community with three days, he plead with the security agencies to help enforce the agreement.