Two Fulani herdsmen reportedly stabbed each other during a quarrel between them which caused panic at Agbala in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State on Tuesday.
The herdsmen were immediatley rescued by villagers and rushed to the emergency unit of the Federal Medical Center, Owerri owing to the gravity of injuries they sustained.
A community source told our correspondent that the development which occurred on Monday night would have escalated if not that another herder witnessed it.
The source said “This issue would have escalated if not that another Fulani herdsman witnessed it.
READ: Fake cylinders may cause`bomb-like’ explosions in Nigerian homes
“What happened was that a Fulani herdsman had gone into the bush where his kinsman and his cows were staying and stabbed him. While the man was sleeping, he stabbed him mercilessly. He left with his victim’s cows after he thought that he was dead.
“To his disadvantage, another Fulani herdsman who was in the bush quickly alerted other Fulani herdsmen (nearby). They monitored him until the herdsmen arrived. On their arrival, they first recovered the stolen cows before stabbing him countlessly.”
“It was villagers who alerted the police. The man was rescued and the two rushed to the emergency unit of FMC, Owerri.”
The source said that it would be a miracle if the two survive, as their conditions were said to be critical.
The Police spokesperson in the state, Orlando Ikeokwu, said that the two herders were responding to treatments at the hospital.
He said that it was policemen from the Agbala Police Division who rushed the herders to hospital following a distress call from people.
Ikeokwu said that the Fulani herdsmen had a disagreement over their cows.