SUSPECTED HERDERS KILL ONE IN AGULERI .... Villagers Raise Warnings On Going Into Forests With Herders, Says Consequences Are High

"Sensitization campaigns warns of the dangers involved as some of the herders are in collaboration with kidnappers and bandits who now deceive innocent persons into the forests where they end up being abducted, robbed or killed." Village sources.

The Anambra State Police Command has confirmed the death of one (1) man, identified simply as "Energy" in the Aguleri area of the state.

The deceased, "Energy" who hails from Umunya, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State was allegedly murdered by suspected killer-herders while trying to buy some herd of cattle from them, in the Aguleri forests.

The Police Public Relations Officer PPRO in the state, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga while confirming the incident, said three herders have been arrested in connection with the murder, disclosed investigation had commenced, and further information would be communicated to journalists.

Available information revealed that, "the deceased and some other people, who were yet to be identified, on Thursday, said to have been, lured into a forest in Aguleri forest in the state by three persons who claimed to be herders on the pretence that they were going to sell cows to them.

"The deceased," it was gathered, "was in need of a cow, and had been connected to a herder, who directed him to come to their camp to purchase the cow."

In a video that is circulating online, it was observed that the deceased had contacted a truck driver to take him to the herders’ camp, which was said to be in Aguleri forest.

The truck driver, who spoke in the video, said, “We were on our way to see the cows, but we noticed we were going into the bush, and I may not have anywhere to reverse my vehicle.

“I told the herder but he insisted we keep going. We had just driven ahead a little when about 10 people came out of the bush with guns and attacked us.

“They grabbed me and my brother, and Energy ran away. They chased him while some were taking us into the bush.

“Later, my brother broke away and started running, so when they chased him, I found out that I was alone, so I ran to my vehicle and escaped. We later came back and found out that Energy had been killed.”

Reports have it that an awareness campaign has since commenced  in the rural areas of the state, warning against following herders, under any guise, especially as it relates to purchase of cheaper cows, in the forest. The sensitization campaigns warns of the dangers involved  as some of the herders are in collaboration with kidnappers and bandits who now deceive innocent persons into the forests where they end up being robbed and killed.