There was tension on Saturday natives of Uzuakoli Community in Bende Local Government Area of Abia, following Friday’s alleged invasion of farms in the area.
The traditional ruler of Ngwu Uzuakoli Autonomous Community, Eze Joseph Okorie, told journalists in his palace on Saturday that armed herders invaded people’s farms with their cattle for grazing.
Mr Okorie alleged that the armed herders uprooted some cassava and yam tubers in the farms for their cattle.
Estimating the extent of damage in the farms at over N20 million, the traditional ruler said that the incident had brought misery to the victims, numbering at least 15.
The royal father further said that the community had suffered similar herders’ attacks for more than a decade.
He said that his own farm had once been attacked, with lots of yams, cassava and vegetables “severely destroyed and wasted.”
Mr Okorie was flanked at the briefing by his Prime Minister, Kanu Imo; the community’s President General, Chimezie Ugorji, and other leaders.
They said that their assailants always struck at odd hours of the night as well as on Afor Market days and Sundays, when people do not go to farm.
They lamented that the attack had persisted because the Local and State Governments had failed to wade in and put an end to it.
They said that the community had made several efforts to elicit sympathy and genuine governments’ attention to their plight to no avail.
