Anambra state governor, Chief Willie Obiano has been urged to quickly intervene in the alleged cases of rape, maiming and murder of rural dwellers by herders to prevent massive attack and genocide in the state.
Indigenous people of Anambra state residing at Canada under the auspices of United Anambra State Association Canada (UAAC), made the appeal in a petition jointly signed by its President and the Secretary, Chief Chuks A. Ejikeme, and Engr. Chidi Mmadumelu.
The group described as worrisome the rate rural dwellers especially farmers and children were being raped, maimed or killed by herders and almajirais.
It noted that such ugly development was aggravated during the period of coronavirus lockdown.
Some communities in the state had during a meeting with leadership of herdsmen between April and June 2020 appealed they vacated their farmlands following the destruction of agricultural produce by their cattle and marauders with no sign of remorse.
The group urged Obiano to empower the traditional rulers, age grades and community vigilante so as to checkmate evil activities of the marauders towards securing the lives and the property of the people.
The petition party read, ‘‘It is a thing of concern seen 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 their in our various communities in the state even as the time of pandemic lockdown.
“I hereby employ our 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 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.”
