By Chidi Nkwopara, Anayo Okoli, Francis Igata
& Peter Okutu

Incidents of killing, robbery, rape, maiming and
kidnapping by the cattle herdsmen have inflicted
pains on most farmers, even as farm produce
have been drastically affected. Farmers, leaving
in fear, have scampered to safety in desperate
bids to avoid being hacked down by the
rampaging herdsmen.
CATTLE rearing and cattle rearers have over the
years contributed their own quota to the
economy of the South-East and the country at
large. The place of Fulani herdsmen is inevitably
important as they have sustained the production
and sales of meat in markets across the country.
However, despite their diverse importance, the
recent activities of Fulani cattle rearers in the
South-East obviously threaten the life and
existence of those living within their areas of
grazing, especially in the rural areas.
It is not in doubt that there is hardly any
community in the South-East geo-political zone
where you will not find Fulani herdsmen. What is
however most disturbing to farmers and land
owners is the way they forcefully colonize, kill,
maim and allow their cattle to destroy farm
crops wherever they set their feet. They have
sadly transformed themselves into law.
The stories trailing the rampage of Fulani
herdsmen and their cattle in the South-East are
therefore as ugly as they are most
discomforting.
The activities of these herdsmen in some
communities in Abia State, for example, have
become a source of great worry to the people.
This is because of the huge damage the cattle
inflict on crops and farmlands in these rural
communities which the breeders illegally and
brazenly colonize as grazing grounds. That the
herdsmen dare them for a showdown when
challenged is most provocative to victims of
this menace!
Saturday
Vanguard
investigations
revealed that,
besides the
damage on
crops and other
farm produce,
the aggressive
nature of the
Fulani cattle
guards is more
of concern to
any community
they invade.
They are
always armed
to the teeth
with dangerous
weapons,
including AK47,
charms and deadly sharp daggers and machetes
and are often ready to attack the farm owners at
the least confrontation.
Tales of woes
There have been reports of clashes between the
herdsmen and farmers across the region. For
instance, in Abia communities of Uzuakoli in
Bende Local Government Area, Ebem and Akanu
in Ohafia and Umuchieze in Umunneochi, there
have been cases of deadly clashes between rural
farmers and these cattle breeders.
In Uzuakoli, a man popularly known in the area
as Ajambele sometime in the past received a
deadly attack when he met cattle destroying his
farm in the Over Rail area of the community and
confronted the Fulani cattle herdsmen who had
invaded the farmland with the cattle. The
herdsmen were said to have used sharp dagger
to rip open Ajambele’s stomach, forcing the
intestines to gush out. He was said to have
been rushed to a hospital and was lucky to have
survived.
Cases of invasion of farmlands in Ebem and
Akanu communities nearly resulted in bloodbath
but the wisdom of the leaders in the community
who timely reported to the authorities saved
bloody clashes. Some of the cases were so
serious that Abia State Government had to
intervene, preventing the youths of the
communities from retaliating. It set up a peace
committee that quelled the then imminent doom.
The story is not different in Enugu State.
Saturday Vanguard investigation revealed that
attacks unleashed by Fulani herdsmen are a
recurring decimal in the state. Of the 482
communities in Enugu State, one cannot boost
of one community that has not had its fair share
of Fulani herdsmen’s barbaric activities which
leave in their wake,perennial tears of sorrow.
Indigenes of Ezeagu tell stories of not only
destruction of their farms but also rape of their
women in their farms.
Over 70 percent of the people in the state who
are domiciled in rural areas, engage in subsistent
or commercial agricultural activities as their
mainstay. But the recent increasing threat posed
by Fulani herdsmen is rocking the fabric of their
fundamental existence.
Incidents of killing, robbery, rape, maiming and
kidnapping by the cattle herdsmen have inflicted
pains on most farmers, even as farm produce
have been drastically affected. Farmers, leaving
in fear, have scampered to safety in desperate
bids to avoid being hacked down by the
rampaging herdsmen.
Last March, suspected Fulani herdsmen allegedly
killed Tamgbo Ogueji, a member of the
traditional rulers’ cabinet at Eke Community in
Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State. The
deceased, aged 85, was shot in his house in the
early hours over an undisclosed issue with the
herdsmen.
President-General, Eke Town Union, Mr. Anthony
Enu, told Saturday Vanguard that the
community was irked and the youths restive. He
said: “Last year, the same Fulani herdsmen
killed two of our brothers, Matthew Aniugo and
Chiagha Chigbo, in their farms. The town is
boiling with anger now. We have reported the
matter to the Police. We are calling on all
relevant authorities to prevail on these Fulani
herdsmen to ensure justice for our people.”
The sleepy town of Nkpologu Community in Uzo-
Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State
was, last January, thrown into mourning
following news of the death of a young woman
on New Year eve, during a Fulani herdsmen’s
robbery attack on a commuter bus.
The deceased, Veronica Ezugwu, 20, from Agum
Village, Nkpologu Community was pronounced
dead at Annunciation Hospital, Emene,
Enugu. She had sustained several gunshot
injuries during the robbery attack on the
commuter bus conveying the victim and three
other passengers home for Christmas on
December 24, 2014.
The incident occurred at Camp Bus Stop,
Nkpologu Community at 12.54pm. According to
an eyewitness, three Fulani herdsmen, armed
with short pump action double-barrelled guns,
sprang from the bush and started shooting at
the bus. The bus driver escaped into the bush
with gunshot wounds, while the two other
passengers sustained minor injuries. According
to the eyewitness, “Veronica was hit on the head
and eyes and her brain tissues severed.”
Contacted, the cousin to the deceased, Chinedu
Ezugwu, said: “She was rushed immediately to
University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH,
Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu. But we could not get
medical attention following the industrial action
embarked upon by health workers.
“We then took her to Annunciation Hospital on
December 25. She was operated on and the
bullets removed. Eventually she died on New
Year eve. We are yet to come to terms with the
sad development. She was coming home for
Christmas and had got to the bus stop to her
village. I do not think we will ever recover from
this”, Mr. Ezugwu lamented.
In Ebonyi State, people are usually
uncomfortable with the activities of Fulani
herdsmen simply because of their tendency to
become violent at the slightest provocation. And
due to their level of education, exposure and
background, many people in the state tend to
avoid them but only react to their misdemeanors
whenever situations get out of control.
However, the complaints of those in Ebonyi
border mainly on the ease with which the cattle
rearers go into both private and public farms
without permission to allow their cattle to graze
in the area.
Farmers and villagers in Imo State also have
gory tales to tell. Emotions ran high and tension
was electric recently as scores of angry youths
of Irete Community in the state, blocked the ever
busy Owerri-Onitsha dual carriageway to protest
the damnable activities of Fulani herdsmen in
their community.
Obviously, the Hausa-Fulani herdsmen were at it
again in the community, harassing the people
who tried to resist efforts to turn their cassava,
yam and vegetables farms into grazing fields for
cattle. Some affected villagers told Saturday
Vanguard that they now feel helpless and
defenceless in their own communities, especially
as the Federal and State Governments appear
not ready to come to their assistance.
Presently, most farmers are now scared to go to
their farms, while it is also true that they are
afraid to move about in the night!
Many South-East socio-political leaders perceive
the menace of these Fulani herdsmen as a
threat to every Nigerian as their activities are
nationwide. Following the recent abduction of
Chief Olu Falae, a group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo
Stakeholders called on President Muhammadu
Buhari to “cage the Fulani herdsmen now.”
The group, in a statement signed by its
Chairman, Mr. Chukwudi Ibegbo said: “The
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Stakeholders’ Forum was
alarmed by the recent abduction of a Nigerian
statesman and Yoruba leader, Chief Olu Falae,
by Fulani herdsmen. This abduction, one too
many, could have led to a national chaos if he
was not released later by the marauders.
“Nigeria and her government should no longer
keep quiet in the face of this Fulani terror in the
Middle Belt and South of the country. The open
grazing acts of Fulani herdsmen are now
outdated and should be phased out in Nigeria.
We warn of future consequences of unchecked
Fulani herdsmen attacks on innocent Nigerians.”
Panacea
Perturbed by the herdsmen’s activities, the
immediate past Enugu State House of Assembly
led by Eugene Odoh, began public hearing on a
bill to make provisions for the control of
nomadic cattle rearing in the state, and which
passed second reading.
Represented by the Leader of the House, Mr.
Udo-Okoye of Awgu-North Constituency, the
Speaker said: “Yes, it’s true that our women,
both young and old, have been raped, maimed in
their farmlands by cattle rearers in the state.
These cattle rearers send their cows into the
farmlands of our people where they destroy all
their farm produce. They block the highways
with their cattle, rob and kidnap our people.
They abduct them and keep them captives in the
bush and demand for ransom. That is why as a
House elected to serve, represent and make laws
for the good governance of our people, we can
no longer fold our arms and watch our people
being killed and maimed.”
The bill provides for the establishment of grazing
areas in each of the three senatorial zones of
Enugu State and the nomadic cattle rearers shall
ensure that the cattle are confined within the
grazing areas as provided.” It further stipulated:
“Any person who permits cattle to graze in an
area not designated as grazing area in the state,
shall be guilty of an offence and shall on
conviction be liable to a six-month
imprisonment or a fine of N100,000 or both.
“Cattle found grazing in an area not designated
a grazing area in the state shall be impounded
by the pound master or any other person duly
authorized by the commissioner. Any cattle
impounded under this law, which is not claimed
within one week of the impounding shall be sold
in accordance with auction law; the proceeds of
the sale shall be deposited in the government
revenue.”
And in Ebonyi State, reacting to the menace of
the Fulani herdsmen, the State Commissioner for
Agriculture and Natural Resources, Barr.
Uchenna Orji condemned the illegal activities of
cattle rearers in the state and called on them to
be law abiding and avoid all forms of vices while
carrying out their activities.
“They need to keep tenets governing the state
and they have not been complying; their actions
have been devastating.

Source : www.vanguardngr.com/2015/10/menace-of-fulani-herdsmen-tales-of-woes-from-the-east/

WIZGUY69:
By Chidi Nkwopara, Anayo Okoli, Francis Igata
& Peter Okutu
Incidents of killing, robbery, rape, maiming and
kidnapping by the cattle herdsmen have inflicted
pains on most farmers, even as farm produce
have been drastically affected. Farmers, leaving
in fear, have scampered to safety in desperate
bids to avoid being hacked down by the
rampaging herdsmen.
CATTLE rearing and cattle rearers have over the
years contributed their own quota to the
economy of the South-East and the country at
large. The place of Fulani herdsmen is inevitably
important as they have sustained the production
and sales of meat in markets across the country.
However, despite their diverse importance, the
recent activities of Fulani cattle rearers in the
South-East obviously threaten the life and
existence of those living within their areas of
grazing, especially in the rural areas.
It is not in doubt that there is hardly any
community in the South-East geo-political zone
where you will not find Fulani herdsmen. What is
however most disturbing to farmers and land
owners is the way they forcefully colonize, kill,
maim and allow their cattle to destroy farm
crops wherever they set their feet. They have
sadly transformed themselves into law.
The stories trailing the rampage of Fulani
herdsmen and their cattle in the South-East are
therefore as ugly as they are most
discomforting.
The activities of these herdsmen in some
communities in Abia State, for example, have
become a source of great worry to the people.
This is because of the huge damage the cattle
inflict on crops and farmlands in these rural
communities which the breeders illegally and
brazenly colonize as grazing grounds. That the
herdsmen dare them for a showdown when
challenged is most provocative to victims of
this menace!
Saturday
Vanguard
investigations
revealed that,
besides the
damage on
crops and other
farm produce,
the aggressive
nature of the
Fulani cattle
guards is more
of concern to
any community
they invade.
They are
always armed
to the teeth
with dangerous
weapons,
including AK47,
charms and deadly sharp daggers and machetes
and are often ready to attack the farm owners at
the least confrontation.
Tales of woes
There have been reports of clashes between the
herdsmen and farmers across the region. For
instance, in Abia communities of Uzuakoli in
Bende Local Government Area, Ebem and Akanu
in Ohafia and Umuchieze in Umunneochi, there
have been cases of deadly clashes between rural
farmers and these cattle breeders.
In Uzuakoli, a man popularly known in the area
as Ajambele sometime in the past received a
deadly attack when he met cattle destroying his
farm in the Over Rail area of the community and
confronted the Fulani cattle herdsmen who had
invaded the farmland with the cattle. The
herdsmen were said to have used sharp dagger
to rip open Ajambele’s stomach, forcing the
intestines to gush out. He was said to have
been rushed to a hospital and was lucky to have
survived.
Cases of invasion of farmlands in Ebem and
Akanu communities nearly resulted in bloodbath
but the wisdom of the leaders in the community
who timely reported to the authorities saved
bloody clashes. Some of the cases were so
serious that Abia State Government had to
intervene, preventing the youths of the
communities from retaliating. It set up a peace
committee that quelled the then imminent doom.
The story is not different in Enugu State.
Saturday Vanguard investigation revealed that
attacks unleashed by Fulani herdsmen are a
recurring decimal in the state. Of the 482
communities in Enugu State, one cannot boost
of one community that has not had its fair share
of Fulani herdsmen’s barbaric activities which
leave in their wake,perennial tears of sorrow.
Indigenes of Ezeagu tell stories of not only
destruction of their farms but also rape of their
women in their farms.
Over 70 percent of the people in the state who
are domiciled in rural areas, engage in subsistent
or commercial agricultural activities as their
mainstay. But the recent increasing threat posed
by Fulani herdsmen is rocking the fabric of their
fundamental existence.
Incidents of killing, robbery, rape, maiming and
kidnapping by the cattle herdsmen have inflicted
pains on most farmers, even as farm produce
have been drastically affected. Farmers, leaving
in fear, have scampered to safety in desperate
bids to avoid being hacked down by the
rampaging herdsmen.
Last March, suspected Fulani herdsmen allegedly
killed Tamgbo Ogueji, a member of the
traditional rulers’ cabinet at Eke Community in
Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State. The
deceased, aged 85, was shot in his house in the
early hours over an undisclosed issue with the
herdsmen.
President-General, Eke Town Union, Mr. Anthony
Enu, told Saturday Vanguard that the
community was irked and the youths restive. He
said: “Last year, the same Fulani herdsmen
killed two of our brothers, Matthew Aniugo and
Chiagha Chigbo, in their farms. The town is
boiling with anger now. We have reported the
matter to the Police. We are calling on all
relevant authorities to prevail on these Fulani
herdsmen to ensure justice for our people.”
The sleepy town of Nkpologu Community in Uzo-
Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State
was, last January, thrown into mourning
following news of the death of a young woman
on New Year eve, during a Fulani herdsmen’s
robbery attack on a commuter bus.
The deceased, Veronica Ezugwu, 20, from Agum
Village, Nkpologu Community was pronounced
dead at Annunciation Hospital, Emene,
Enugu. She had sustained several gunshot
injuries during the robbery attack on the
commuter bus conveying the victim and three
other passengers home for Christmas on
December 24, 2014.
The incident occurred at Camp Bus Stop,
Nkpologu Community at 12.54pm. According to
an eyewitness, three Fulani herdsmen, armed
with short pump action double-barrelled guns,
sprang from the bush and started shooting at
the bus. The bus driver escaped into the bush
with gunshot wounds, while the two other
passengers sustained minor injuries. According
to the eyewitness, “Veronica was hit on the head
and eyes and her brain tissues severed.”
Contacted, the cousin to the deceased, Chinedu
Ezugwu, said: “She was rushed immediately to
University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH,
Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu. But we could not get
medical attention following the industrial action
embarked upon by health workers.
“We then took her to Annunciation Hospital on
December 25. She was operated on and the
bullets removed. Eventually she died on New
Year eve. We are yet to come to terms with the
sad development. She was coming home for
Christmas and had got to the bus stop to her
village. I do not think we will ever recover from
this”, Mr. Ezugwu lamented.
In Ebonyi State, people are usually
uncomfortable with the activities of Fulani
herdsmen simply because of their tendency to
become violent at the slightest provocation. And
due to their level of education, exposure and
background, many people in the state tend to
avoid them but only react to their misdemeanors
whenever situations get out of control.
However, the complaints of those in Ebonyi
border mainly on the ease with which the cattle
rearers go into both private and public farms
without permission to allow their cattle to graze
in the area.
Farmers and villagers in Imo State also have
gory tales to tell. Emotions ran high and tension
was electric recently as scores of angry youths
of Irete Community in the state, blocked the ever
busy Owerri-Onitsha dual carriageway to protest
the damnable activities of Fulani herdsmen in
their community.
Obviously, the Hausa-Fulani herdsmen were at it
again in the community, harassing the people
who tried to resist efforts to turn their cassava,
yam and vegetables farms into grazing fields for
cattle. Some affected villagers told Saturday
Vanguard that they now feel helpless and
defenceless in their own communities, especially
as the Federal and State Governments appear
not ready to come to their assistance.
Presently, most farmers are now scared to go to
their farms, while it is also true that they are
afraid to move about in the night!
Many South-East socio-political leaders perceive
the menace of these Fulani herdsmen as a
threat to every Nigerian as their activities are
nationwide. Following the recent abduction of
Chief Olu Falae, a group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo
Stakeholders called on President Muhammadu
Buhari to “cage the Fulani herdsmen now.”
The group, in a statement signed by its
Chairman, Mr. Chukwudi Ibegbo said: “The
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Stakeholders’ Forum was
alarmed by the recent abduction of a Nigerian
statesman and Yoruba leader, Chief Olu Falae,
by Fulani herdsmen. This abduction, one too
many, could have led to a national chaos if he
was not released later by the marauders.
“Nigeria and her government should no longer
keep quiet in the face of this Fulani terror in the
Middle Belt and South of the country. The open
grazing acts of Fulani herdsmen are now
outdated and should be phased out in Nigeria.
We warn of future consequences of unchecked
Fulani herdsmen attacks on innocent Nigerians.”
Panacea
Perturbed by the herdsmen’s activities, the
immediate past Enugu State House of Assembly
led by Eugene Odoh, began public hearing on a
bill to make provisions for the control of
nomadic cattle rearing in the state, and which
passed second reading.
Represented by the Leader of the House, Mr.
Udo-Okoye of Awgu-North Constituency, the
Speaker said: “Yes, it’s true that our women,
both young and old, have been raped, maimed in
their farmlands by cattle rearers in the state.
These cattle rearers send their cows into the
farmlands of our people where they destroy all
their farm produce. They block the highways
with their cattle, rob and kidnap our people.
They abduct them and keep them captives in the
bush and demand for ransom. That is why as a
House elected to serve, represent and make laws
for the good governance of our people, we can
no longer fold our arms and watch our people
being killed and maimed.”
The bill provides for the establishment of grazing
areas in each of the three senatorial zones of
Enugu State and the nomadic cattle rearers shall
ensure that the cattle are confined within the
grazing areas as provided.” It further stipulated:
“Any person who permits cattle to graze in an
area not designated as grazing area in the state,
shall be guilty of an offence and shall on
conviction be liable to a six-month
imprisonment or a fine of N100,000 or both.
“Cattle found grazing in an area not designated
a grazing area in the state shall be impounded
by the pound master or any other person duly
authorized by the commissioner. Any cattle
impounded under this law, which is not claimed
within one week of the impounding shall be sold
in accordance with auction law; the proceeds of
the sale shall be deposited in the government
revenue.”
And in Ebonyi State, reacting to the menace of
the Fulani herdsmen, the State Commissioner for
Agriculture and Natural Resources, Barr.
Uchenna Orji condemned the illegal activities of
cattle rearers in the state and called on them to
be law abiding and avoid all forms of vices while
carrying out their activities.
“They need to keep tenets governing the state
and they have not been complying; their actions
have been devastating.

Source : www.vanguardngr.com/2015/10/menace-of-fulani-herdsmen-tales-of-woes-from-the-east/

stick it up your azz azzhule

Obviously, the Fulani herds men issue is a national issue, those deluding themselves about this being a regional issue should recognise this for what it is. From Taraba, benue, Jos, nassarawa, enugu, ebonyi, delta, ogun, ekiti, ondo etc, this fulani herds men keep on wreaking havoc, I am very angry right now because the government keeps on playing the ostrich on this issue. Maybe we all need to arm ourselves to our farms all over the country and kill this criminals once sighted , when they start loosing their precious cows all over the country, let's see how they will be able to perpetuate their so called revenge.

Common enemy.

One Nigeria for better for worst, its a pity that we are been stuck together with this people.. God why?

This long pass the bible

lalasticlala.
please FP.
for the whole world to see the menace of Fulani herdsmen in the SE. People are dying everyday here.
thanks!

WIZGUY69:
lalasticlala.
please FP.
for the whole world to see the menace of Fulani herdsmen in the SE. People are dying everyday here.
thanks!

and you didn't read the part where the abia state government had to intervene so as to stop a full blown war between igbo farmers affected and Fulani herdsmen? some cowardly tribes would rather not face the fulanis their master.

SonOfEl:


and you didn't read the part where the abia state government had to intervene so as to stop a full blown war between igbo farmers affected and Fulani herdsmen? some cowardly tribes would rather not face the fulanis their master.

Stop hiding under one finger. Fulani herdsmen are killing your brothers and opening their stomach with daggers and you are here justifying your people's non action with the governors intervention. You people should have retaliated first by killing those who killed your people before calling on the governors to intervene. Empty chest beaters.

seunmsg:


Stop hiding under one finger. Fulani herdsmen are killing your brothers and opening their stomach with daggers and you are here justifying your people's non action with the governors intervention. You people should have retaliated first by killing those who killed your people before calling on the governors to intervene. Empty chest beaters.

keep deluding yourself. we responded. question is, have your own tribe responded?

SonOfEl:


keep deluding yourself. we responded. question is, have your own tribe responded?

Oke ogun comes to mind.

I just de laf at these yoruba ppl sef. I cant imagine Alex Ekwueme or Ken Nnamani kidnapped by Fulanis for four days, if u like open million threads na u sabi

sherrylo:

Oke ogun comes to mind.

Also ilaro people in ogun state kill them on sight