By Cajetan Mmuta
Over ten thousand cows and herders were sacked by indigenes of the Subaru community in Anambra State following massive protest by the people over the destruction of millions of naira worth of food crops and plantations caused by owners of the animals on the farmlands in the area.
A video trending on social media on Saturday showed tens of thousands of cattle and their herders were seen being chased out of the local government by the protesting youths, men,n d women in their large numbers.
The protesters were drawn from Ossomala, Umunankwo, Ogbakuba, and Ochuche-Umuodu a, another community that makes up the local government where the effect of massive destruction of crops and fafarmlandsave taken toa ll byonhe cattle and the herders.
Chairman of Ogbaru local government area Transition Committee Mr. A..rinse Awogu who confirmed the incident said discussions are ongoing or a peaceful exit of all herdsmen and cattle from Ogbaru due to the atrocities they are committing against the people.
He explained that the herdsmen and their cattle were yet to leave the community as their exit had been suspended until 12midnightn Sunday, to ensure that their movement does not cause traffic gridlock.
Awogu had in a letter to all stakeholders including President Generals of various communities, traditional rulers, women, and youth groups called for restraint to allow for peaceful resolution of the contentious matter.
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The letter read: “May I start by appreciating our community leaders, Ndi-Igwe, the PGs, the woman leaders, the youth leaders, the vigilantes, our political leaders, the average farmer and the Ogbaru public for the maturity in handling the invasion of cattle and herders in Ogbaru and farm space.”
He said, “Agreed that no one’s means of livelihood will be subjected to mindless destruction and pillaging and will listen to the voice of reason but you did; I must commend you and also for your patience and understanding thus far.”
“However, we have in the past days made appreciable progress in line with our avowed pursuit of a negotiated exit of the cattle and herders from our space and I can assure you that the process of peaceful exit has been concluded. The herders will begin their peaceful movement by midnight today and will require free passage to exit.”
“I wish to appeal to our people, particularly those around Ossomala, Umunankwo, Ogbakuba, and Ochuche-Umuodu axis to allow the herders up until night to quickly and quietly leave as moa movement in the dadaytimeay cause mumanyifficulties both to the herders and to traffic, giving the number of cattle involved.
He added that “The law on anti-open grazing is clear and Ogbaru won’t accept anything to the contrary.”
