Men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen have reportedly raped a 70-year-old woman to coma in Isu, Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The women of Isu on Wednesday stormed Abakaliki, the State capital to protest against the activities of Fulani herdsmen in the area.
The women came in their numbers, carrying placards with different inscriptions, such as “Fulanis have destroyed all our crops and polluted our rivers and ponds. “Fulanis have humiliated us” among others.
The the leader of the protesters who gave her name as Florence Okoro, said that the herdsman sneaked into the old widow’s house while she was preparing her evening meal and raped her.
Okoro added that the hands and legs of the old widow were broken on the process, and appealed to the state government and security agencies to come to their aid.
However, the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice of the State, Chief Augustine Nwankwegu, who addressed the women at the Fatilami Abubakar Park, condemned the raping of the widow and the destruction of the farmlands of Isu people by the herdsmen.
He gave them the assurance that the government would take decisive action against the perpetrators of the crimes.
He told them that Governor David Umahi had directed that the culprits be fished out and allowed to face the full weight of the law.
The commissioner explained that the Governor had always emphasized the need for peaceful coexistence and wondered why such wickedness should be meted out to the people.
“The Governor has heard this and asked me to look for a way to catch the man[rapist] so that he would be punished accordingly.
“We have gone to the police and they told us they were on the way to bring him(rapist) to Abakaliki. I’m promising you that by Monday, he would be arraigned in court.
“You will come and see him because what he has done is wrong. The governor supports live and let’s live”, he said.
Also, the Chief of Staff of the State Government Emmanuel Offor Okorie condemned the activities of the herdsmen in the area.
He assured that the right thing would be done to serve as a deterrent to others.
“It’s annoying the Fulani herdsmen, instead of taking care of their cattle are touching you.
“What is expected to be done for you to be happy our governor will do it.”
Comments