By EMMA ELEKWA, Onitsha

Anambra state governor, Chief Willie Obiano has been urged to quickly intervene in the alleged cases of rape, maiming and murder of farmers and rural dwellers by herders to avert massive attack and genocide in the state.

Indigenous People of Anambra State residing in Canada under the auspices of United Anambra State Association Canada (UAAC), made the appeal in a petition jointly signed by its President, Chief Chuks A. Ejikeme and Secretary, Engr. Chidi Mmadumelu.

Some communities in the state had during a meeting with leadership of herdsmen, appealled the herders vacated their farmlands following the destruction of agricultural produce by their cattle and marauders with no sign of remorse.

The group described as worrisome the rate rural dwellers especially farmers and children were being raped, maimed or killed by suspected herders and almajirai.

Regretting that the ugly development worsened during the COVID-19 lockdown, the body further urged Obiano to empower the traditional rulers, age grades and community vigilante to checkmate evil activities of the marauders towards securing lives and property of the citizens.

The petition partly read, ‘‘It is a thing of concern seeing the rate our farm produce are being destroyed, our women and female children beaten and raped, while our men and boys maimed, some killed right there in our various communities even as the time of pandemic lockdown.

“I hereby employ our state governor to use his good offices to fish out the dissidents who have no tangible mission in the state especially those inside the bushes and forests across the state mostly without known identities back to wherever they came from before it is too late.

“I hereby suggest that the governor should empower the traditional rulers, age grades and community vigilante so as to checkmate evil activities of those marauders and terrorists in order to prevent massive attack and genocide in our God given state. A stitch in time saves nine.” (The Nation)

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