Frantic efforts are being to avert possible hostilities between Fulani herdsmen and the Ebenebe community in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

This followed the clashes that stemmed from the destruction of crops in farmlands in the area by the Fulani cattle herdsmen.

A source who spoke to News Express said that members of the community had mobilised to fight back after herdsmen moved their cattle to destroy crops in farms, with threat of attacking the community.

Heads of security agencies in the state, traditional rulers, heads of communities and representatives of Ebenebe community and Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association were said to have met on Thursday, December 12, 2019 to resolve the crisis.

It was also learnt that security agencies in the state worked round the clock to foil any loss of life during the clash which occurred on Thursday.

The meeting which was confirmed in a press statement by the Public Relations Officer of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), ASC Okadigbo Edwin, said that the meeting was convened to assess the level of damage done on crops and livestock in the community and to broker peace between the two parties.

The statement read in part: “The State Commandant of NSCDC Anambra State Command Comdt. David U. Bille, today (Thursday), met with members of the State Cattle Menace Control Committee comprising of the Commissioner of Police (Committee Chairman), the Commander 302 Nigerian Army Artillery Regiment Onitsha, the Director Department of State Services, traditional rulers of the surrounding towns and representatives of Myetti Allah and Ebenebe Community in Awka North.

“The meeting was to resolve lingering issues between cattle rearers and farmers in Ebenebe community, which happened some days ago, which would have caused a breach of peace, before the security agencies restored normalcy to the area.”

Speaking to journalists, an indigene of the community said that members of the community have had a long standing crisis with cattle herders in the community because of continuous damage of crops by herds.

It was further learnt that a team of combined security forces have been stationed in the community to avert any form of reprisal attack from any of the parties.

Update news