File photo: A herd boy fully armed

David Eze, Abakaliki

Four persons were reportedly killed and over 14 injured as farmers clashed with herdsmen in Igbeagu Community, Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The incident, according to reports, happened Monday morning in Anyanwuigwe village, Igbeagu community, Ikwo local government area of the state.

The Ebonyi state Police command spokesperson, Loveth Odah, confirmed the incident to our reporter.

She said the two herdsmen attacked a villager in the bush, after an altercation with him, and chopped off his hands. She added: “As they were attacking him, he managed to raised an alarm and more villagers came to his rescue”.

Odah, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said the herdsmen also attacked the villagers who came to their brother’s rescue inflicting machete cuts on about three of them before fleeing the scene.

But the villagers chased and caught up with them and also beat them up before handing them over to the soldiers stationed close to the community.

The wounded three villagers were rushed to the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, FETHA where two of them later died.

“Also, one of the herdsmen also later died as he was rushed to the hospital making it four deaths from the incidents”, the spokesman said.

The spokesman regretted the deaths from the incidents and cautioned residents not to confront the herdsmen but to report to the herdmen desk of the Police Command headed by the OC SARS.

Meanwhile, the state governor chief David Umahi has directed that all stakeholders, community leaders and youths of the community and members of the Miyati Allah to a crucial meeting tomorrow, 13th March at the Exco chambers government house Abakaliki to address the issues.
This is contain in a press statement issued by Emmanuel Uzor,