Residents of some two communities in Imo State have been gripped with fear as hundreds of Fulani herdsmen have taken over sec­tions of the towns.

The affected communities are Umukabia in Ngor Okpala and Umuedo in Ahiazu Local Government Areas of the state.

A community leader, Eze Uzoma Uchegbu, who is also the Edo of Umuedo in Ahiazu Local Government Area, confirmed the incident.

He said the herdsmen numbering over 1,000 had last Wednesday besieged the com­munity at about 10pm with their cattle.

According to him, the community was rattled by the trappings of the cattle and the herdsmen who entered their community through a river separating the area from Ikeduru. He said the cattlemen were however resisted by the people of Ogiri Ike.

The community leader said that the people persuaded them to move on, which made them to cross over to Umuedo.

Uchegbu further explained that the herdsmen who carried pots and mats, said they had come to settle at the Umuedo Community Primary School and threatened that if they were attacked by the villagers, they would return to revenge.

Eze Uchegbu, who is a lecturer at the Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, said youths and vigilante members resisted the cattle herdsmen peacefully and directed them to move on.

He said the cattle were saddled with heavy sacks suspected to be dangerous weapons.

According to him, there was no room for negotiation as his people were apprehensive of the herdsmen, adding that the police were summoned to ensure peace and order.

A youth leader of Nguru Umuaro in Ngor Okpala, Cajetan Duke, confirmed that the herdsmen were also resisted entry by youths in Umukabia.

•Sourced from The AUTHORITY. Photo shows armed Fulani herdsmen.