Herdsmen Allegedly Raze Property Worth Millions at Anambra Youth Centre

Fulani herdsmen have been fingered in a fire incidence that destroyed property worth millions of naira at the National Youth Development Centre in Mgbakwu, Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The fire, which burnt down the bungalow housing the office of the principal of the centre, was alleged to have been ignited by some suspected Fulani herdsmen grazing their cattle at the centre.

It was gathered that some of the property destroyed by the fire included computer sets, television sets, gas cooker, household and office effects among other items.

Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the principal of the centre, Mrs. Grace Ogbuji, who expressed shock over the incident, said she received a distressed call from one of the cleaners at the centre, alleging that herdsmen grazing their cattle at the centre allegedly put the fire last Wednesday.

"She told me precisely that the fire was ignited by Fulani herdsmen, which affected the three bedroom flats in the centre," she said.

Ogbuji who regretted that the centre had been underutilized since its establishment, appealed to both the federal and state governments to come to their rescue by rebuilding the affected structures.

She also stressed the need for the centre to be put in full use to achieve the purpose for which it was established.

"Since the centre is located in Anambra State, the state government should liaise with the federal government to ensure the centre is used for what it was meant for," she added.

A youth leader in the area, Chukwuma Nnenna, who said he was an eyewitness, lamented that the quantity of property lost to the inferno was much because of the odd time the incident happened in.

"The unfortunate incident took all of us unawares because it occurred at an odd hours when it was almost difficult to put out the fire," he said.

He also called on the state government to make good its promises of empowering the youths in the area by repositioning the centre for optimal results.

The President General of Mgbakwu, Chief Nweze Okafor, said it was high time the government made adequate use of the facilities to actualise its objectives.

"It is either the government put the centre in proper and full use or they give us back our land," Okafor stated.

He however hinted that he had already contacted the leader of the Fulani herdsmen in Awka North Local Government Area who had promised to pay a visit to the centre to ascertain the extent of the damage.