A Community Leader in Ishiagu Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Mazi Damian Okafor yesterday raised the alarm over what he described as an invasion of farmlands of the people of the community by suspected herdsmen and the alleged raping and killings of innocent women in the farmlands by the invaders.
In a statement signed by him and made available to Journalists in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, Mazi Okafor who recently lost his aged father in the farmland to the herdsmen attack expressed worry over the worsening insecurity situation in the Local Government.
Okafor who is the Immediate Past National Youth Leader of the Ohaneze Ndigbo said that to stop the killings and raping of innocent young and aged women in the farmlands, "our people especially those in authority need to do something differently to stop the unnecessary loss of lives, raping of our women in our community by the herdsmen.
"Many of us have lost our loved ones, not on the battlefield but at their farmland steads. This has happened repeatedly in Ameze, Amonye, Amata, Ihietutu, Amokwe, Ngwogwo and other villages in Ishiagu.
"Our women no longer go to the farm for the fear of being raped and possibly killed. Cows are everywhere grazing on people's farm crops. Kidnappers are picking people one after the other and ransom is being paid. Chai !!!
Who do we offend?
"The rate at which our Youths are leaving Ishiagu to rent houses in Enugu and Abakaliki is just too much. Many people have moved their families out of Ishiagu for their fear of the unknown. Even when their business is in Ishiagu, their safety and that of their families are not guaranteed.
"Go to our farms, the herdsmen have again taken over the only means of livelihood of Ndi Ivo. You cannot see a strand of cassava in any Ivo farm. From Ameze to Ameke down to Ngwogwo through Amokwe were all Fulanis. Ndi Amata, Ihietutu, Amonye, Ihie and Ndi Obinagu can no longer go to their farm.
"The borders are as porous as a basket used to fetch water. What a misplaced priority.
Mazi Okafor called on the Council Chairman, Hon Emmanuel Ajah and other stakeholders to do all within their powers to arrest the ugly situation adding that, our Chairman should face governance and work with the stakeholders of Ivo LG to improve the security situation in the local government which has become so worrisome and disturbing.
He commended the State Governor, Rt. Hon Francis Nwifuru for ensuring the presence of military checkpoints on all the entrance and exit routes of the Iagu Community adding that the invaders now resort to the bushes to perpetrate their evil acts. Ends.
