How herdsman cut off my hand – 54-year-old farmer - The Announcer

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Friday, 6 April 2018

How herdsman cut off my hand – 54-year-old farmer

A 54- year-old father of seven , Mr. Mathias Odey , whose left hand was allegedly cut off by a herdsman during a clash on November 5 , 2017 has said that he had remained without help from anywhere .
Odey was injured during a clash between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in Ugaga community of Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State .
Southern City News learnt on Friday that the farmer was attacked by a herdsman in his farm when he was harvesting farm produce with his children .
He recalled the incident , “ My children and I were plucking pepper from one of my farms. We usually do this together . After I finished with the pepper , I went to another section to harvest yam .
“ I had barely harvested four tubers of yam when we saw some Fulani herdsmen entering our farm . Three of the herdsmen were with their cows, scattering the ridges . My son attempted to chase them , but one of the herdsmen brought out a cutlass and went after him .
“ He hit my son twice but didn ’t injure him . I went after him and suddenly , he turned towards me and tried to cut off my neck with the cutlass. I used my hand to defend myself and that was when it was chopped off . ”
He said that he fell on the ground and called his children to help him , adding that in the process , he became unconscious and woke up in the hospital .
Odey said he had been depending on goodwill from friends to address his medical condition .
He said that he had spent the last four months visiting hospitals in Calabar and Ogoja for medical attention .
“ When this incident happened , there were promises that the government would take care of my hospital bills and see to it that I get treated, but nothing of such has happened .
“ I have been depending on the goodwill of family members . I have spent the last four months in and out of hospitals both in Calabar and Ogoja Local Government Area ,” he lamented .
The father of seven wondered what would become of him as his hand , his primary tool for farming, has been cut off .
The Commissioner of Police , Mr . Hafiz Inuwa , had shortly after the incident confirmed the death of one with several others injured as a result of the clash .

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