Pandemonium as herders disrupt marriage ceremony in Ebonyi community

There was pandemonium in Abaomege village in Onicha local government area of Ebonyi state following a recent clash between herders and residents of the community.

The herders who were said to be traveling with over 2000 cows allegedly clashed with the people of the area resulting in an injury to two persons, a cow and loss of a motorcycle.

In an interview with Hon. Prince John Elom, coordinator of Ukaba development centre in Onicha local government area of Ebonyi state accused the herdsmen in area of not complying with the directive of the state government of profiling.

He alleged that during the clash, there was shooting, destruction of crops, adding that they also disrupted a traditional marriage that was being held in the community.

He said, “As a matter of fact, when I came on board, I inaugurated a committee in charge of settling dispute between farmers and herdsmen but the herdsmen have refused to cooperate with us and have also rejected profiling. There is an existing memorandum between the herdsmen and the state government on the migration of cattle.

“But what happened recently as I was reliably informed was that the herdsmen were migrating from Calabar to Kogi state. The first time I am hearing about such migration. There were having about 2000 cattle and at Abaomege, they had little misunderstanding with our people.

 “They were destroying crops along the road. And at that moment, there was pandemonium. After that, they ran into a crowd that was doing traditional marriage at Amaoffia. They had a problem there and our people were attacked.

Meanwhile, Ibrahim Idris, the leader of Myetti Allah in Onicha local government area of Ebonyi state in a telephone interview told Blueprint that there was a clash between herdsmen and the people of Abaomege.

He alleged that three cows belonging to the Fulani herdsmen were wounded and money collected from one of the herders, even as he denied the fact that anyone was injured in the clash, adding also that no motorcycle was collected from the people.

 Idiris, who said that the matter was being settled, pointed out that the herdsmen and the people had attended a security meeting with security agents to ensure the matter was settled amicably.

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