The Chairman of Umunneochi LGA of Abia State, Sunny Afurobi, has convened an emergency security meeting with security chiefs in the area, following the destruction of farms by cattle allegedly brought in by herdsmen.
The meeting was also attended by leaders of the Hausa community, representatives of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, in the South-East, and leaders of affected communities in Obinolu and Ngodo.
The meeting was also convened to douse the tension created by the destruction of the farms and also to address the concerns raised by affected farmers, especially the women.
Addressing the meeting at his office, Chairman of Umunneochi LGA, Sunny Afurobi, said the emergency meeting was a prompt response to the “Save Our Soul” appeal by the women of Obinolu over the alleged destruction of their farms by Fulani herders.
He noted that Umunneochi had enjoyed relative peace since Governor Alex Otti assumed office, but regretted that recent incidents allegedly involving some herders had begun to threaten the peace and security of the area.
Mayor Afurobi expressed concern over the destruction of farmlands and crops, including cassava, local beans, maize and melons, which, according to him, are produced by rural farmers in commercial quantities.
He noted that such activities were negatively affecting the peace, economy and standard of living of the rural populace, most of whom depend on agriculture as their major source of livelihood.
The Mayor said reports of alleged encroachment and destruction of farmlands by herders had continued to reach his office, stressing that any action by an individual or group that undermines the efforts of others to achieve growth, progress and survival must be collectively rejected.
He assured the stakeholders that resolutions reached at the end of the meeting would be vigorously pursued to guarantee maximum security, peaceful coexistence and sustainable development in Umunneochi.
Narrating their experiences, some indigenes of Obinolu and Ngodo communities lamented that their cassava on their farms was allegedly uprooted and used to feed cattle by herdsmen, adding that other crops, including local beans, maize and melon, were trampled upon by cattle.
They also alleged incidents of harassment of women and abduction of farmers in some areas, while expressing concern over what they described as the alleged disregard by some herders for existing agreements and restrictions on open grazing.
The community representatives maintained that open grazing was prohibited in their communities and appealed to the Abia State Government to take decisive measures to protect farmers and their means of livelihood.
Responding, the Chairman of the Hausa Community at Umuchieze Cattle Market, Alabit Jubrin, his Secretary, Abubakar Abdulahi Kedemure, and the leader of the Hausa community in Abia State, Yaro Danlandi, condemned the destruction of people’s sources of livelihood through activities involving cattle.
They dissociated their community from any form of illegal open grazing in Umunneochi and its environs and called for stricter measures to restore sanity and peaceful coexistence.
Abia: LGA Chairman convenes emergency security meeting as cattle destroy farms in Umunneochi