The women of Obinolu Ngodo in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State have staged a protest at the local government secretariat, alleging that Fulani herdsmen have been uprooting and destroying their cassava tubers. The women, from various villages in Obinolu, claim that the herdsmen feed the cassava to their cattle. This has caused significant distress and concern among the women, who fear that the destruction of their crops could exacerbate hunger in the community.
According to the protesting women, the attacks on their farms have become increasingly frequent over the past few weeks. They claim that large herds of cattle have been trampled on their other germinating crops, further exacerbating the situation. The women also expressed fear for their safety, stating that they are now hesitant to enter their farms due to the presence of the herdsmen. This has left them feeling vulnerable and without a source of livelihood.
The women arrived at the local government headquarters in Nkwoagu, carrying cassava stems that they claim were uprooted by the herdsmen. They carried placards with messages such as "Our people may die of hunger," "We are now afraid to enter our farms," and "We don’t want Fulani herdsmen in our farms." The women are calling on the government to intervene and take action to stop the destruction of their farms.
The Chairman of Umunneochi Local Government Area, Sunny Afurobi, addressed the protesters and acknowledged that he had received similar reports of farm destruction in another community. He assured the women that the government is taking the situation seriously and promised to investigate the problem. Afurobi emphasized that Governor Alex Otti is committed to ensuring the security of the people and has been working to address issues of insecurity in the area.
Afurobi also noted that the government is not ignoring the security concerns of the community, citing the government's efforts to tackle kidnapping in the area. He promised that the government would work to find a solution to the problem of herdsmen destroying farms and to ensure that the women can safely access their farms.
The destruction of farms by herdsmen has become a recurring issue in many parts of Nigeria, with many communities expressing frustration and concern over the impact on their livelihoods. The situation in Umunneochi highlights the need for effective measures to address the issue and prevent further destruction of farms.
The women of Obinolu Ngodo are hopeful that the government will take concrete steps to address the issue and protect their farms. They are calling for an end to the destruction of their crops and for the herdsmen to be held accountable for their actions. The government has promised to investigate the problem and take action, but it remains to be seen what concrete steps will be taken to address the issue.
Key points
- Women in Umunneochi, Abia State, protest destruction of cassava farms by herdsmen
- Government promises to investigate and address the issue
- Destruction of farms by herdsmen a recurring issue in Nigeria
