Residents flee as gunmen invade Abia community

Over 300 residents of Isiadu Community Ameke Ibeku in Umuahia North of Abia State have fled their community following invasion by gunmen suspected to be herders.

The suspected herders who witnesses said entered the community in the early hours of yesterday with a large number of cows, resisted attempts by the villagers to deny them access to their farmlands for grazing.

The herders were said to have arrived from Urbani Ibeku in Umuahia North, a village located at the northern end of Abia State.

The village head of Isiadu, Chief Ochionye Chilaka, said his kinsmen abandoned their homes and took refuge in the bushes when the herders started shooting into the air.

He said at least 300 people fled their homes when it became obvious that the herders had sophisticated weapons and were bent on unleashing mayhem.

Chilaka said, “I got a call from my relative that herdsmen had invaded the community with their cows, destroying crops and setting our farms on fire. As the village head, I sent a delegation to plead with the herdsmen to leave our farm. They left and later returned with about 15 more of them with AK47 riffles.”

When Daily Trust visited the community there was heavy presence of armed security agents.

The Commissioner for information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, who also had visited the affected community, said the conflict and resolution committee set up by the state government had moved into action to ensure adequate compensation was paid to affected farmers.