Four Herdsmen, 100 Cows Killed, As Gunmen Attack In Anambra

The South-East Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigera, MACBAN, Alhaji Gidado Siddiki, has lamented the killing of 4 Fulani herdsmen and 100 cows in Ogborji, Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State by unknown gunmen.

Alhaji Gidado Siddiki, who regretted that over 20 herdsmen were allegedly  killed in Anambra from January to 6 March, made the disclosure in Awka, capital of Anambra State in a press briefing to selected Journalists.

According to Alhaji Siddiki, the gunmen invaded the cattle settlement of one Idris Mohammed, on Saturday, in Ogborji, in a Hilux van and opened fire on the herders and their cattle. He stated that except from the four herdsmen and 100 cows killed in the attack, most cows have scattered without trace.

“One of the escaped herders called me and told me that some unknown gunmen in a Hilux vehicle with red cap invaded Mohammed Idris Herders’ Settlement shooting sporadically and that led to the deaths of our four members and hundreds of Cows missing,” he said.

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The MACBAN, South-East coordinator said, the names of the victims are Hadari Umaru, Hamidu Umaru, Aliu Idris and Hassan Idris. He said three bodies of the killed herdsmen are still missing.

While calling on Anambra State government to investigate and bring the culprits to book, he stated that herdsmen in South-East have shown much respect to their host, not warrant such attacks.

The visibly angry Gidado Siddiki, stated that with recurrent attacks, issues may escalate to the level management will be a problem.

“The Fulani people in the South-East are not violent and we are not here to undermine the business of the people of the area. So, I am surprised why my people have been killed unjustly like that.

“We have experienced a lot of challenges in the region including the death of our members, despite our quick response whenever issue of compensation arises. I am constrained to say this publicly, because I can no longer hold the pains anymore.

“My people have begin to think I have been compromised… while keeping wait over various killing of herders in the zone. They have accused me of not saying anything about their killing in the zone.

“My worries now is that time will come when they cannot listen to me again, then it would be very difficult to control and manage them. There is no issue of farmland damaged by our people that we did not pay,” Gidado lamented.