Again, herdsmen invade Enugu communities, kill three

Herdsmen have reportedly killed three people in fresh attacks on Agu-Amede, Mgbuji and Umujiovu-Eboh communities in Eha-Amufu, in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the attacks happened on Friday and Sunday, bringing the total number of villagers’ killings by suspected herdsmen to 20 in the communities.

During the attack on Friday, the spokesman for Mgbuji community, Chijioke Ogbodo, while speaking to our correspondent on Monday, said two villagers were killed when they were monitoring the exit routes in the community.

Ogbodo said, “Three of our boys monitoring the exit routes were attacked on Friday by armed Fulani herdsmen who killed two of them. Luckily, one escaped and returned to inform the community otherwise many would have been massacred. This one happened during the state governor’s visit to the community.

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“Since they started attacking our community, neither the police nor the military had arrested any of them. We received information this morning also that they are coming for another attack. As I speak to you, many residents have relocated to other neighbouring communities for safety.”

Speaking on the recent attack in Agu-Amede community, the spokesman for the community, Ogenyi Odo, also said a resident, Sunday Ogbuabour, was allegedly killed by herdsmen.

Odo said, “On Sunday around 7.12am, Sunday Ogbuabour, and his son, Ifeanyi, were going to the farm when seven armed herdsmen attacked them. He was killed but his son escaped with machete cuts.

“We are at the mercy of Fulani armed herdsmen. Our people are afraid of going to farm. So many people have been forced into IDPs camps. How can soldiers and policemen be here and these terrorists will continue to have unhindered access to be attacking our community.”

Efforts to get the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, to react to the attacks proved abortive as had yet to respond to calls and a text message sent to his mobile number as of the time this report was filed.