The women of Ukpada community in Bekwarra Local Government Area of Cross River State have raised alarm over the activities of herdsmen in their community.
According to the report by Vanguard on Tuesday, the women said that the herdsmen frequently invade their farms and destroy their crops, and that now, they are threatening their lives.
The women recently took to the streets to stage a protest, and called on the state government to come to their aid and save their lives and properties from the killer herdsmen.
While speaking to the newsmen, a source said that the problem started when a resident of the community confronted a herder who stood and watched as his cattle grazed on people’s crops.
The source who spoke on condition of anonymity said that when the resident confronted the herder, he (the herder) tried to kill him.
According to the source, the resident overpowered the herder during the scuffle that ensued, and the herder lost his life in the process.
The source said that the police came and arrested several people in the community, adding that the villagers were released by the police after the community paid heavy compensation to the herders’ community.
The source added, “We do not know why they are coming back and threatening to kill all our people and destroy their crops. The inhabitants of this community are 95 percent agrarian and they should not weaponize their only source of livelihood against them.”
Another resident of the community identified as Theresa Akwaji lamented that it is from their farm that they send their children to school and feed themselves. She said that because of the threat from the herders who are armed with dangerous weapons, they can no longer go to their farms….Viêw_More
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