By EMEKA OKAFOR, Umuahia
On the heels of perceived attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen in their area, women of Amiyiobilohia Community in Isuikwuato Local Government of Abia State have cried for help from the state governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, to rescue them from the invaders hiding in their area.
The women who made the appeal through one of their leaders, Mrs. Fidelia Mkpu, while presenting an address during the commissioning of a completed 50 Open Shops built by the State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ASOPADEC) said the presence of the suspected herders in their farmlands has prevented them from going to farm or to their streams.
Mrs. Mkpu while commending Governor Ikpeazu for directing that the project be located in their community, however, prayed the governor to intervene in the rising cases of attacks and in most cases, raping of women who went to their farmlands by the suspected herdsmen.
The woman leader said fears had been heightened in the community following cases of attacks in the recent times on women on their way to their farms, a situation that made people of the area to abandon their farms.
She maintained that the community being a food producing area may not be able to go to their farmlands to harvest or cultivate them during the coming farming season.
Also speaking, an illustrious daughter of the community and a serving Commissioner in the Commission, Hon. Kate Maduako, decried the alleged attacks and prayed that God should intervene in the circumstance and alleged a security breach.
She assured them the state government would do everything possible to protect the lives and property of people in the state.
Recall that a member of the state House of Assembly representing Isuikwuato State Constituency, Hon. Barr. Emeka Okoroafor, had raised the alarm over rising cases of attacks and kidnapping within his constituency in recent times. (Daily Independent)
Source: News Express