Trouble Brews in Anambra Over Disappearance of Herdsman, Dead Cows

The disappearance of one Shehu Issah, a herder, in Aguleri may have caused a major misunderstanding between members of Aguleri community and herdsmen.

It was gathered that Issah who went out with his cattle for grazing disappeared without trace, just as two of his cattle were found dead.

The Chairman of South East Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders ,  Alhaji Gidado Sadeeq, declared that the 23-year old  herder disappeared in Aguleri, Anambra State, but failed to state his date of disappearance.

He said two cows under Issah's guide were killed in the community while others returned without the herder.

Sadeeq said the situation had created tension in the area, while stating that  the police and the Department of State Service(DSS) averted an attack on some other cattle herders by the host community.

It was  gathered from a source in Aguleri, who pleaded to remain anonymous that the disappearance of the  herder may breed trouble for the community, saying  this has been a source of worry to the community.

He insisted that the community did not know anything of the diasppeance of the herder, nor were they involved in the travails of the herder.

But the Chairman of South East Miyetti Allah cattle breeders ,  Alhaji Gidado Sadeeq, expressed worry too about the safety of his people.

"My people are now afraid of an imminent attack. It's unfortunate that this is happening.

" It's unfortunate that the host community are not keeping to the agreement reached between the security,  Anambra State Government and the herdsme," Sadeeq stated.

Journalists gathered that as a result of the development security had been beefed up in the community which incidentally is governor Willie Obiano's home town.

When contacted on the telephone, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Nkeiruka Nwode said the matter had not  been brought to her knowledge.

She promised she would get in touch with the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Otuocha, where the incident alleged occurred, and get back to our correspondent; but she never did as of the time of filing this report at 5.40pm.
Ends.