Nigerian Army Allegedly Brutalize Cross Rivers Youths For Chasing Fulani Herders From Their Community.

The Nigerian Army has been accused of brutalizing youths in Nde village, Ikom LGA, Cross Rivers state, for protesting against cattle grazing in their farmland.

No fewer than 10 youths of Nde Community in Ikom Local Government Area, Cross River State were reportedly brutalized by soldiers, prompting residents and monarchs to cry out to the military and state government for help.

Community members claimed that the youths pleaded with the herdsmen to leave their land after their cattle destroyed almost all of their farm produce.

Consequently, soldiers allegedly arrived in the community and beat up their youths for asking the herdsmen to leave.

According to the youths, soldiers from the Amphibious battalion rounded up villagers at Nde and inflicted injuries on them for protesting against cattle grazing on their farms.

Mr. Cletus Orem, who claims to be one of the youth, leaders in the community, told Vanguard that several herds of cattle stationed in the community have been grazing on their farms for months which prompted youths on Saturday to confront the herders and asked them to either stop grazing on their farms or leave the community.

Orem said: “The herdsmen then went to Edor Army Barracks which is about three kilometers away to report that youths of Nde attacked them and sent them away from the Community.

“Soldiers from the barracks came in truckloads on Sunday, rounded up youths and took them to the barracks, flogged them severely, leaving them injured.

“Our community is currently on fire as military men dehumanized the youths with the intent to provoke us but we pleaded with the herdsmen to leave our land after destroying our crops to avoid further attacks.”

Members of the community have said that they are peaceful and have asked herdsmen and the army to leave them in peace.