The people of Eke, in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State have expressed concern over the increasing number of divorce cases in their communities’ sequel to attacks and rape of married women by suspected herdsmen.
In a paper presented to the Commission of inquiry into the killing of people in Nimbo community, in the Uzo-uwani Local Government Area, the president general of the Eke Town union, Mr. Anthony Enu, said the situation had become scandalous.
Enu explained that following the rape cases the men have refused to accept their wives who were defiled by herdsmen in the cause of their frequent attacks on the community.
“The herdsmen are consistently raping our women and daughters infecting them with serious diseases thereby, causing indirect divorce in our communities.
“If my wife is messed up by the herdsmen, why should I take her in again? This will mean that what is holding her will hold me,” he said.
He said that communities in the area had had their fair share of attack by the cattle breeders, adding that no fewer than 10 persons had died as a result.
Enu recounted how three residents of Ogui village, Messer’s Iloafonsi Ofokansi, Aniago Egbo and Josephat Maduweke were killed in cold blood by suspected herdsmen in 2002.
“One Mr. Isreal Eneje was working on his farm with his daughter when the cattle breeders took their animals to his farm. He protested and told them to go away and they ended up killing him. They have killed many of our people in the past and in each case we report to the police station at 9th Mile.
“The herdsmen are now assuming to be landlords and have been harassing our people. They should leave our communities in peace,” Enu said.
Meanwhile, the Agu Umabor Town Union in Nsukka local government area of the state has said that they were opposed to the creation of grazing reserves in their area. The Secretary of the union, Mr. Livinus Odo said this while testifying before the tribunal on their activities of the suspected herdsmen in their area.
Odoh appealed to the South East caucus in the National Assembly to give a block opposition to the legitimization of any form of grazing bill.
“They should vacate our communities because we don’t have enough farmland not to talk of the one for grazing. The herdsmen have committed atrocities in our communities and it has been a difficult time for our people and we appeal to the government to save us from this menace,” he said.
He narrated to the tribunal how on May 10, 2016 one Nnabuike Odo, a commercial motor cyclist made a passing comment when he sighted them grazing on a farm.
“They shot at him but he was so fortunate to escape their bullets. We have abandoned a particular road leading to our community because of them. My people have abandoned agriculture because of the herdsmen and we are helpless,” Odo said.
Responding, the Chairman of the panel, Justice Chukwuma Eneh said that the commission would accommodate all complaints and forward same to the state government.
“We will accommodate your story in our report and see if the government will do something to help you,” Eneh said.
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