Fulani herdsmen on Wednesday invaded another community, Ozuitem in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, injuring scores with one of them in a critical condition at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia.

The attack is the third within a month in different parts of state especially Abia North as the security agents seemed overwhelmed by the rampaging herdsmen.

From his hospital bed at the emergency ward of FMC where doctors are battling to save his life, one of the victims, Mr. Sunday Oru, told The AUTHORITY that he escaped by whiskers.

According to him, countless herdsmen with over 3,000 cows stormed the community in the recent times, destroying farm lands and crops.

The 40-year-old father of seven said pleas by the farmers for the herdsmen to leave the community were ignored as the nomads vowed to rather fight, conquer them and occupy their land if they attempt to evict them.

Continuing, he said a member of the community on Wednesday went to his rice farm, only to discover it had been invaded by cows which were grazing on it while the herdsmen chased him away.

He said the man ran back to the community and alerted other members who mobilised to the scene.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Ogbonnaya Nta, confirmed the incident but said the police was on top of the situation.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Eme Okoro, an indigene of the community, expressed sadness over the attack. He said that the herdsmen had threatened to feed on his three hectares of cassava farm.

The SSG said he got wind of the possible attack on his community about three days earlier and alerted the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) for Zone 9 and wondered why no action was taken to prevent the attack.

•Sourced from The AUTHORITY. Photo shows armed herdsmen.

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