Herdsman In Police Net For Attempted Murder

A herdsman Salisu Garuba is reportedly being interrogated by Abia State Police Command for allegedly attempting to kill a woman whose name was given as Esther Ibenmecha with a machete.

The incident, our reporter gathered, took place at No. 1 Pepples road in Ogbor Ancient Kingdom, Aba North Local Government Area of the state.

It was gathered the herdsman, who had hit Esther with a stick after she insisted he must pull out all his cows from her business premises, later used the knife with him to make do his initial threat to cut off the throat of the single mother.

According to sources, the attempt by the herder to kill Esther failed as the victim used her hand to block the knife from landing on her throat.



Sources at the Aba General Hospital where Esther is receiving medical attention, who spoke to our reporter on the condition of anonymity, disclosed the indigene of Ohafia LGA lost three of her left fingers.

One of them said: “She was bleeding profusely when she was brought here. Two out of the three affected fingers were already dead by the time they brought here. The medical team could only stitch one that has little life in it.”

Commissioner of Police, Ene Okon, when contacted on phone by our reporter, said that he was yet to be briefed on the incident.

A police source however disclosed though Garuba was brought to Eziama Division, he was later handed over to Azuka Police Division, Ogbor Hill, which has jurisdiction on the matter.

The source hinted that the CP has directed that the victim should be arraigned in court as soon as investigation was concluded.

The traditional ruler of Ogbor Ancient Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Eze S.A Egege was not on seat when our reporter visited his palace.

But members of his community and residents of Pepples road who spoke to our reporter, described the activities of herdsmen in the community as worrisome.

According to them, they have suffered economic losses in the hands of herders who invade their farms with their cows for grazing.

They said their continued silence over the activities of herdsmen in the community should not be taken for granted.

They called on government and leaders of the Hausa community in Aba to call their people to order.