People of Ohuani community in Amagunze, Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, yesterday demanded a staggering compensation of N3 billion from Fulani herdsmen for allegedly destroying properties and farmlands in the town.

President-general of Ohuani Amagunze Town Union, Chief Francis Nnamani, made the demand on behalf of his people while testifying before the commission of inquiry set up by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to look into the recent massacre of people and destruction of properties in Nimbo community of Uzo Uwani Local Government Area of the state.

Besides, Nnamani told the panel that they no longer want to see the Fulanis in their land, insisting that they should go back to their states.

While appealing to relevant authorities to disarm the herdsmen whom he claimed were moving about in their community with sophisticated weapons, he said there was need to check the activities of herdsmen.

Narrating the ordeal of his people in the hands of Fulani herdsmen, Nnamani disclosed that one Mrs. Theresa Mbah was brutally raped by herdsmen when she went to her farm, adding that she was later rescued by the local vigilante group in the community.

He claimed that the herdsmen, whom he said were always in groups, had a way of covering their tracks when they destroy crops.

Nnamani further recounted how one Ndubuisi Nworie was beaten right in his farm by suspected herdsmen in the community, adding that the incidences were reported to the Amagunze Police Station.

According to him, over 70 percent of their people who are predominantly farmers are no longer farming as their crops are not safe, pointing out that their farm fields have been devastated due to the settlement of the herdsmen in the community.

He further told the panel that on April 9 2016, the herdsmen invaded the community in broad daylight with dangerous weapons and looted goods from the shops of some traders, adding that the herdsmen opened fire to scare people before stealing goods from the shops.

Similarly, the traditional ruler of Anuka community in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, Chief Michael Utazi has advocated the killing of grasses to discourage grazing in their community.

Utazi, who gave the suggestion while testifying before the panel, said the measure had become necessary following the inability of government to adequately contain the activities of the cattle breeders.

The traditional ruler stated that such measure would put to an end the incidences of clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the rural communities, adding that his community had recorded its fair share of the clashes which had involved the loss of lives, theft and kidnapping.

“We have suggested that our people should either stop eating cow meat or spray grass killing substances on all green grasses in our community. This we can be doing two times in a year,” Utazi said.

He recounted that one day, after drinking water, one of the herdsmen asked him where he came from and he, Utazi, answered that he was from Avrugo community, but they told him that he was lying and that he was from Anuka community.

“One of them hit me with the stick and I ran away,” he said.

The monarch said that their community was now afraid because of the incident that happened at Nimbo.

“The worst is that they threaten our people with the incident at Nimbo community and said that if we are not careful our case will be worse,” Utazi said. (Nigerian Pilot)

•Photo shows Enugu Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

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