Save us, herdsmen are killing, raping our women, Group tell Obiano

ONITSHA, Anambra, Nigeria – United Anambra State Association Canada (UAA-C), an umbrella body of indigenous people of Anambra state residing in Canada, has cried to the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano to quickly resolve  alleged cases of rape, maiming and murder of rural dwellers by herders.

UAA-C in a petition signed by its President and the Secretary, Chief Chuks A. Ejikeme, and Engr. Chidi Mmadumelu, described the rate at which rural dwellers especially farmers and children were being raped, maimed and  killed by herders and Almajirai as  worrisome.

They said it was aggravated throughout the period of Coronavirus lockdown.

Some communities like Ebenebe in Awka North  local government area and Enugwu-Ukwu in Njikoka  local government area of the state had between April and June 2020 met with leadership of herdsmen and  appealed to them  to  vacate their farmlands as their cattle and marauders had at various time engaged in destruction of agricultural produce and other crimes without showing any sign of remorse.

The Anambra residents in Canada, apparently disturbed by this and other developments,  urged governor Obiano to double efforts towards  securing the lives and the properties of their people at home from the so-called Almajirai and the herders that have allegedly taken over their businesses and forests.

The release added ‘‘It is a thing of concern seeing the rate our farm produce are being destroyed, our women and females children beaten and raped, while our men and boys maimed, some killed right there in our various communities in the state even as the time of pandemic lockdown.

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“We  hereby implore our amiable and hardworking  state governor to use his good office to fish out the dissidents who have no tangible mission in the state especially those inside the bushes and forests across the state,  mostly without known identities and send them back to wherever they came from before it is too late.

“I hereby suggest that the governor should empower the traditional rulers, age grades and community vigilante so as to checkmate evil activities of those marauders and terrorists in order to prevent massive attack and genocide in our God given state. A stitch in time saves nine. Long live Anambra state” it stated