The women of Obinolu Ngodo in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State have stormed the Umunneochi Local Government Secretariat to protest the alleged invasion and destruction of their farms by herdsmen.
The women, who came from different villages in Obinolu, alleged that Fulani herdsmen uprooted their cassava and fed it to their cattle.
They also cried out that large herds of cattle trampled on their other germinating crops, a situation they warned could worsen hunger in the community.
According to the Obinolu Ngodo women, they were now afraid to enter their farms because of the presence of herdsmen.
The women, who arrived at the local government headquarters in Nkwoagu with cassava stems allegedly uprooted by the herdsmen, said the attacks had become persistent in recent weeks.
Placards raised by the protesting women read: “Our people may die of hunger,” “We are now afraid to enter our farms,” “We don’t want Fulani herdsmen in our farms”, “Government, save us now,” among others.
Addressing the protesters, the Chairman of Umunneochi Local Government Area, Sunny Afurobi, said he had received similar reports of farm destruction in another community.
He promised to address the situation.
“Governor Alex Otti is serious about the security of our people. He tackled the incessant kidnapping of our people, and the government is not sleeping when it comes to security matters.
“We will investigate the problem because we cannot abandon our farms,” Afurobi assured the women.
Herdsmen uprooting our cassava tubers, feeding them to cattle – Umunneochi women