One person and many cows were killed in Ole-Esu community in Omalla LGA of Kogi State following a clash between farmers and herders at the weekend.
City & Crime gathered that following the clash, residents of Ole-Esu and its neighbouring Ibadon-Akpacha, Ofejiji and Agbenema communities fled in droves for fear of reprisals.
A resident, Abdullahi Ako, said trouble started on Saturday when migrating herders were sighted destroying crops in Ole-Esu community.
He explained that, “This weekend, tempers flared up and a crisis resulted between herders and residents of Ole-Esu community. We learned that one person was killed and many cows were also killed.”
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He noted that, “We are not against the herders passing through our land, but they should respect our own means of livelihood. It’s heart-wrecking to see what one laboured for destroyed just like that.”
Another resident, Ebiloma Edime, said, “The herders should respect our source of food, income and livelihood as we respect theirs.”
They, therefore, appealed to the government at all levels and security agencies to come to their aid to nip in the bud the reported planned reprisal attack.
The state’s police spokesman, SP William Aya, who confirmed the incident, said, “The situation is already calm. Police and other security agencies, including vigilantes and hunters, are keeping surveillance over the areas with keen interest.”
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