Tension in Delta community as herdsman ‘kills farmer’

A farmer identified as Ifeanyi has been killed by a herdsman in Aniocha north local government area, Delta state.

He was killed on Saturday by the herdsman during an altercation with some herders in his cassava farm located in Onicha Olona community.

Andrew Aniamaka, spokesman of the state police command, confirmed the development to TheCable.

He also confirmed to TheCable on Monday that the killing was carried out by the herder, and that the command is on the hunt for the culprits.

“There is a case of murder being investigated in (Onicha) Olona,” he said.

When asked to confirm reports that the deceased was killed by one of the herdsmen, Aniamaka replied: “That is true. And we are investigating.

“The important thing is that we are on a manhaunt for the suspect. Until we see him before we know what the motive is.”

TheCable learnt that trouble had started when Ifeanyi, an indigene of Ebonyi, confronted the herders on why his farmland was burnt the previous night.

His younger brother who witnessed the incident said midway into the quarrel, one of the herdamen drew his AK-47 rifle and shot at Ifeanyi at close range.

He added that Ifeanyi’s body subsequently dismembered after being shot.

The incident has generated tension among residents in the community.

But Aniamaka added that calm has returned to the community.

“Olona is calm and quiet. The police command has been able to pacify the family of the victim.”

Residents in Olona said dispute between the community and the herders was at its peak last week when farmers “woke up to discover that their farmlands have been set ablaze by the herders.”

“The herdsmen have been mulling and prancing around vast hectres of mainly yam and cassava farmlands in the entire Aniocha/Oshimili axis with herds of cattle grazing on farmlands leading to intermittent skirmishes with farmers,” a resident who declined to give his name said.

The Olona incident is just a case out of other reported killings in attacks orchestrated by the herdsmen in various parts of the country, including Benue, Taraba and Ekiti states.