The Chairman of the Interim Management Committee of Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, Mr. Canice Mbah, has cried out to the Federal Government to rescue communities in the area from constant attacks by herdsmen.

The chairman, who said that communities under the council area were under the seige of herdsmen, specifically called on President Muhammadu Buhari, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the State Security (DSS), the Chief of Defence Staff and other heads of their security agencies to rescue Mbaitoli from incessant kidnappings, rape and destruction of their farmlands by herdsmen.

Mbah, who made the call when he took members of the Correspondents Chapel on a tour of the local government on Friday, alleged that the rampaging herdsmen were usually armed with AK47 and other lethal weapons.

He listed the affected communities to include Ogbaku, Eziama Obiato, Umunoha, Ifakala among others.

According to him, his efforts in the area had led to a significant reduction in armed robbery, kidnapping and other social vices except the activities of the herdsmen in his localities.

He said: “The invasion of herdsmen since I came on board as the chairman has been the major challenge we have in Mbaitoli in terms of insecurity.

“Already, the situation has affected productivity in terms of farm output. If you go to the markets, you would find the effect of this action because prices of farm products such as garri have skyrocketed. It’s really regrettable. That’s why we’ve advised our people especially women to always go in groups anytime they want to go to farm,” he said.

The chairman told journalists that Mbaitoli which has the largest landmass has put measures in place to check ghost workers in the council, adding that any worker who fails to have 75 per cent attendance at work for the month would forfeit his or her salary. (The Nation)

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