After the vicious death of a female student at St. Paul’s College, Eke, in the Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, late on Thursday, tears were abundant.
It was reliably reported by OBASANJO NEWS24 that the student was shot and killed by kidnappers who were thought to be Fulani herders.
A local, who contacted our correspondent late on Thursday night, reported that additional youngsters who were also shot are fighting for their lives in an unidentified hospital.
Additionally, a graphic video featuring the victim’s lifeless body and a few of the attack survivors was sent to OBASANJO NEWS24.
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The video’s narration began, “Our students were attacked by Fulani herdsmen as they were leaving for home after school. One of them was shot and died, and four other students were also shot and died instantly. They have done enough.”
“Look at the corpse of the little student they killed; she has four bullet wounds and is unconscious. She is pointing to another victim. We are praying that God will sustain her.”
“The Fulanis operating at Eke-Egede Road did this; since they are the ones who survived, the government need to assist us. Now, our location is a death zone.
The incident was corroborated by Rev. Fr. Frank, the principal of the Catholic Church-owned school, who was contacted by OBASANJO NEWS24 as well.
It’s true that yesterday, at 3:30 p.m., we dismissed the students; during their bus ride home, gunmen ambushed them; some of them sustained gunshot wounds, one of whom passed away in the hospital;
“That was between 4:30 and 5 p.m.; they were just fired at by the gunmen.”
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of such a bright young girl in this situation.”
Other local sources informed OBASANJO NEWS24 that the region had been a haven for kidnappers for years and that security services had been powerless to halt the rampaging herdsmen’s activities.
Speaking anonymously, a community elder claimed that many kidnapping victims in the Udi and Ezeagu areas are held captive until a ransom is paid.
According to him, people who were unable to pay the ransom were typically slain within a few days.
He stated that the 15-kilometer-long “Ofia-akwu” woodland had continued to be a death zone, with numerous people having perished there in the past at the hands of Fulani herders who were involved in kidnapping.
The security services are aware that they have been breaking several laws while residing there for a number of years.
“We are unsure of the reason behind the difficulty in eliminating them from that area.
He bemoaned, “Their murderous activities on that Eke-Egede Road have taken many lives.”
Similarly, following the attack on the school bus, it was also reported that the same gang kidnapped a well-known traditional ruler.
The Affa monarch “was kidnapped along Eke-Egede-Affa Road after a security meeting with chairman of Udi Local Government and men of our high profile neighbourhood watch,” according to a statement made accessible to OBASANJO NEWS24.
In the name of Jesus, we pray for his safe return and rescue. God willing, our work won’t go in vain, Offorkansi Hyginus, PRO of the Affa Security Committee, remarked.
OBASANJO attempted to contact DSP Daniel Ndukwe, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Enugu State Command, in the meantime, but he asked to be texted instead.
As of the time this report was filed, he had not replied to the message.
