One person was killed and four others injured on Tuesday when Fulani marauders and farmers clashed in Okoti village in Odoekpe, Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Although the identity of the deceased could not be immediately established, the Police and Naval authorities, who confirmed the incident, said that the injured had been taken to an undisclosed hospital.
Trouble reportedly started when news filtered into Okoti that some herdsmen had killed a farmer and dumped his body in the bush.
Consequently, the natives, mainly youths, mobilised into the scene where they found three of the herdsmen and attacked them with machetes.
An eyewitness told The AUTHORITY that the prompt arrival of the men of the Onitsha Naval Outpost saved the situation from degenerating.
He said: “The rumoured killing of the farmer in a farm in Okoti in the early hours of Tuesday by the herdsmen was responsible for the clash, and three herdsmen were left with machete cuts before the naval officers arrived and took over the place.”
A naval officer, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “We received a distress call from the natives and mobilised to the scene of the incident to ensure that the clash did not escalate.”
He said 30 naval officials were mobilised in three pickup vans to the scene of the incident to restore order and peace in the area, while one of the vehicles will be patrolling from Odoekpe to Osamala to ensure there is no regrouping of people for further clashes.”
The naval officer said that his men are in the community for deterrence purposes and to ensure that there is calm, noting that the three people who were injured had been taken to an undisclosed hospital.
He said that the Navy will continue to appeal to the leaders of the community and the settlers to understand the need for peaceful co-existence, adding that “we are all Nigerians and must continue to live together in peace and harmony.”
Another account claimed that the Fulani herdsmen first launched an attack when the farmers asked them to leave their area.
A resident said that the angry herdsmen attacked one Dubem Ononuju, an action that infuriated the community youths who mobilised to the rescue the victim and defend their land.
According to him, two of the Fulani herders were apprehended and handed over to the joint security operatives comprising the Nigerian Navy, Army and the Police.
The state Police Command Public Relations Officer, Mr. Nkiru Nwode, could not be reached as at the time of filing this report last night, but a police officer said that the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sam Okuala, was on top of the situation.
The Police Area Commander for Onitsha, Yahaya Abubakar, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, said some arrests were made, while the injured ones were taken to hospitals. He said that investigations were in progress.
– Authority
