Tension in Owerri as armed Fulani herdsmen lead cows through streets, sparking public outcry
June 29th, 2025
Residents of Owerri, the Imo State capital, were left stunned on Friday, June 28, 2025, after several cows were seen grazing openly along major roads and streets, escorted by what witnesses described as audacious and heavily armed Fulani herdsmen. The bizarre spectacle was caught on video and swiftly circulated online, igniting fear and anger across the city.
The herders, moving boldly in broad daylight, were spotted around areas such as Warehouse Junction, Control Post, and Ikenegbu Layout—zones that are typically
Eyewitnesses said the herders neither responded to inquiries nor acknowledged warnings from concerned residents. “They walked through like they owned the city,” said Chuka Ofor, a shop owner at Ama JK. “Nobody dared to stop them because of the weapons they carried. This is not normal in Owerri.”
Imo residents have taken to social media platforms to express outrage, calling on Governor Hope Uzodimma and the Imo State House of Assembly to investigate the security breach. Several commentators questioned how armed herders could move so freely in the heart of a state capital without immediate police or military intervention.
Tensions over herder activity have been high in Southeast Nigeria, with multiple communities across Imo, Enugu, and Abia previously accusing suspected Fulani pastoralists of land encroachment and violent attacks. The open grazing ban passed in 2021 by Southern governors appears to be increasingly disregarded, particularly in urban areas like Owerri.
As of press time, neither the state government nor the police command has released an official statement addressing the incident. However, a senior security source at the Imo State Command told our correspondent that “an emergency briefing is being scheduled” following public pressure and rising calls for swift government action. Source at the Imo State Command told our correspondent that “an emergency briefing is being scheduled” following public pressure and rising calls for swift government action.
The sight of armed herders openly flouting laws in a city as symbolic as Owerri, has raised alarm over the erosion of authority and the state’s ability to guarantee safety. For many locals, it’s not just about cows on the road—it’s a stark reminder of the growing impunity, and how quickly chaos could replace calm in a city once known for its order.