Hyacinth Chinweuba
Palpable fear has gripped Yala and Ogoja local government areas of Cross River State following the arrival of two trailers loaded with Fulani herdsmen.
The youth leader of Okuku in Yala local government area of the State, Joseph Odey Owonah said the Fulanis came into the communities on Sunday in two trucks loaded to the brim.
He told newsmen on phone on Tuesday that the arrival of the Fulanis has created serious tension in the area.
He explained that the migrants, especially women and children distributed themselves into various bushes in the areas, scaring the people the more.
“Fulanis came into our towns in two long trailers, entered on Sunday and distributed themselves into bushes around. The youths of Okuku and Ogoja summed up courage and drove them away.
“We escorted them up to boundary of Benue state. We resisted their stay here. They were much, over a thousand, especially children and women. It appeared as if they were driven out of where they were staying and they came to take solace here.
“The trailers they came with were covered with tapoline such that it was difficult to note that they are human beings,” he said.
He said that the Hausas who have been living in Garki over the years were the first to raise alarm and called the attention of the people about the “new faces” who have come to join them.
According to him “The new Fulanis will make life difficult and hostile for us to continue living in Ogoja peacefully because it is possible they were driven from wherever they came from.
“I am calling on the people of Ogoja, residing at home, to remain vigilant against possible invasion into Ogoja or its environs. We will not accommodate Fulanis who will come and cause chaos or give our people sleepless nights. We will not condone any act of forceful invasion into our territory or neighbourhood.
“We will resist them in our numbers and won’t allow them stay, not anytime soon.”
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ms Irene Ugbo actually two trucks loaded with Fulani herdsmen arrived the towns but were returned back.
“It’s true that two trucks loaded with Fulani herdsmen arrived the town but were chased back by the communities and security agents. The areas are calm and quiet,” she stated.