Rumours of Fulani herdsmen planning to invade Umuaka gather momentum.
3 min read
The fear of Fulani herdsmen making successful inroads in the farmlands of Umuaka community of Njaba LGA Imo State has gathered momentum in the recent time. About two weeks ago, some unconfirmed highly disturbing whatsapp voice recordings were circulated in Umuaka and some neighbouring communities. The voice recordings claimed that Fulani herdsmen had come to attack some communities like Ezioha, Afara and Umunoha. Umuaka Times made several efforts to confirm if indeed Fulani herdsmen invaded the communities and at last, no concrete evidence was established. Herdsmen have been involved in clashes with farmers across Nigeria, often resulting in violence, displacement and economic disruptions.
Indications show that the Federal Government of Nigeria has refused over the years, to enact laws that will serve as a guide to Fulani herdsmen and their grazing activities. The inability of the APC- Federal Government of Nigeria to address this urgent concern has led to a lot of losses by farmers including human lives across Nigeria. A couple of weeks ago, there were reports that that Fulani herdsmen who were armed blocked travellers along Ihitte Okpola highway in Ngor Okpala in Imo State.
Aba Owerri Express Road is another major road in both Imo and Abia states people fear to use as a result of the insecurity created by Fulani herdsmen. Umunguma in Imo State perhaps still remains the worst experience where both Fulani herdsmen and kidnappers operate; many people who went to the Umunguma area in the past for business and other engagements were reportedly kidnapped and some of the women raped.
Sometime last month, some Imo communities were thrown into panic when the Imo State Police Command came across a letter allegedly written by the Fulani herdsmen. The letter which was dropped at Umuoba Community of Irete in Owerri West LGA, reads “FULANI HERDSMEN, WE ARE COMING. WAIT FOR US AT ANY TIME, AT ANY MOMENT NOW. WAIT FOR US.”
The police dismissed the claims made in the letter as being the handwork of some criminal elements interested in causing harm and breach of peace to the general public.
Also still in the month of February 2025, Umuaka Times came across some voice recordings which alleged that Okwudor town in Njaba LGA suffered heavy casualties following the invasion of the community by Fulani herdsmen. Umuaka Times investigations showed otherwise; no concrete evidence was obtained which showed that such a tragic incident took place in Okwudor.
As far as some of the invasions in Igboland by Fulani herdsmen are false, there are many others that are real and and call for urgent interventions from stakeholders. Umuaka town being one of the A-list communities in the state, the likelihood of Fulani herdsmen invading the community is being discussed by some stakeholders in the community. Umuaka Times findings have also shown that many communities in Njaba LGA and Isu LGA too are holding stakeholders meetings to discuss the matter.
Fulani boys (scavengers) whom many Igbo people mistake as Ndi Hausa have continued to comb all corners of waste dumps and villages in Igboland in search of scraps. Many people have accused such scavengers as thieves and spies. For now, some top voices in Umuaka have appealed to every Akalite to be watchful and report any strange movement to the appropriate authorities.
