4 injured as herdsmen, farmers clash in Okoti-Odekpe community in Ogbaru Local Government Area, Anambra state

www.odogwublog.com reports that no fewer than four persons were yesterday hospitalized, following various degrees of injuries they sustained when some Fulani Herdsmen and farmers clashed in a farmland at Okoti-Odekpe community in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra state.

According to the source, the clash which sparked off at about 10 a.m. as soon as the herdsmen allegedly invaded the farmland with their cattles and allegedly allowed the cattles to destroy a large chunk of the farmlands, caused a pandemonium within the community,  which resulted in the wounding of a farmer from Okoti-Odekpe and wounding of three herdsmen.

Eye-witness told newsmen that it was the herdsmen that first launched the attack against the farmers with their cutlasses, which resulted in hacking down one of the farmers simply identified as Dubem Ononuju, while in the ensuing encounter, the farmers regrouped and launched a reprisal attack which led to the wounding of three herdsmen.

It was gathered that the Fulani Herdsmen were allegedly provoked when one of the indigenes advised or warned them to drive their Cattles away from the farmland but rather than obeying the farmers, they allegedly launched the attack at once with their cutlasses.

The incident attracted the attention of soldiers Navy and policemen who quickly rushed to the scene and rescued the herdsmen from the grip of the youths from the community and rushed the injured ones to a nearby hospital for medical attention.

Confirming the incident, the Police Area Commander for Onitsha, Yahaya Abubakar, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP, said some arrests were made, while the injured ones were taken to hospitals, adding that investigations were still in progress.