Anger, panic as herdsmen invade, destroy 200 farms in Imo

Herdsmen yesterday, invaded  farmlands  in Imo State and destroyed over 200 farms in Amakohia-Ubi Autonomous community,   Owerri west Local Government Area of Imo state. The farmers  are now counting losses following the invasion of their farmlands by herdsmen. President General of the community, Mr. Cyril Ndumanya confirmed this to Vanguard, yesterday, in Owerri.

He said that millions have been lost and hunger could ravage the community. Ndumanya said: “What we are seeing in the hands of these herdsmen is causing us unforgettable pains. “Last month, we reached an agreement to stop this ugly trend but you can see that they have started again. This time around, what they have destroyed are worth millions of naira. No issue of rape, killings but the level of destructions may bring hunger.

“Our cassava, vegetables, maize have been completely destroyed and used by herdsmen to feed their cattle.” Vanguard gathered that farmers were bewildered early morning  Thursday, when they came for their normal farm activities to behold their crops had been destroyed by herdsmen. A farmer, who simply introduced herself as   Benedict told Vanguard, “ I came to my farm to harvest my cassava only to see that cattle have destroyed them. “I want to collect some cassava to go and sell in the market and used the money to buy what me and my husband and children will eat.

I am shedding tears, I don’t know what to do now.” A titled chief, who preferred the name Nze, said that it was not the first time such a thing was happening in the community and that his relatives had been affected by the recent invasion of their farmlands by  herdsmen. Nze said: “We have more than 200 people farming in the area and some of them went to the farm to harvest what they will eat. You can see thatthe  people are suffering. I want to ask what will these people affected do ? “The problem is not that they destroyed our crops but when will this type of thing stop? Whenever the herdsmen destroy  our  farmlands, there is always so much hunger in the land.”Vanguard