On Sunday, an armed group believed to be killer herdsmen and their allies from the Benue State village of Agala assaulted the Ebor community in the Enugu State local government of Eha-Amufu.
Unknown numbers of individuals died in the most recent attack, according to SaharaReporters.
Only eight days have passed since a group of attackers invaded the neighborhood, which at last count resulted in 25 fatalities. Residents of the settlements of Mgbuji, Umujiovu, and Ebor were forced to leave their homes due to the attack.
As a result, businesses in Eha-Amufu, Enugu’s third-largest town, were compelled to close.
A security source bemoaned the attack on Sunday and the state government’s failure to address the issue head-on.
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According to the report, “These attackers have taken control of almost 40 villages and settlements. They are currently attacking the communities. The administration is only putting out token protests about the fact that individuals have been evicted from their homes and villages during the harvest season. The administration is aware that these individuals are from Benue State communities.
“This early on Sunday morning, the invaders, who outnumbered the military and vigilantes, launched another attack on the Ebor village. I have seen bodies that were less than 10, but I am unable to provide an exact number at this time.
“We continue to comb the bushes and look for any other victims. This is a regrettable situation. They treated the people of Benue State exactly the same way. They likely intend to merge the Benue settlements they have already sacked to form a sizable territory they can claim as their own.
According to the information I have, the attack was started this morning between 5:30 and 6 a.m. by armed herdsmen and their allies from communities in Benue State. There had been multiple fatalities before we arrived. We have a small number of soldiers here, and our base is quite removed from the local towns. Except for local vigilantes, there are no other security personnel from other security agencies in Eha-Amufu. The armed herders who were invading them outnumbered them when they (the vigilantes) first engaged them, the informant continued.
A prominent member of the community identified as Ogbuabor Samuel confirmed the assault.
The armed herders who are invading are still firing as I speak to you. There have been several fatalities. At least 10 dead people’s bodies have been found. The local government of Isi-chairman Uzo’s is attempting to influence us politically. He was reluctant to inform the governor of the reality of the situation in these communities. He opposes the neighborhood watch groups and other forms of neighborhood protection.
“He disbanded all the neighborhood watch groups established by Eha-Amufu villages a few weeks ago, yet he hardly ever visits the impacted communities. We require the government to issue a state of emergency for security in Eha-Amufu, particularly in the settlements of Ebor, Umujiovu, Mgbuji, and Agu-Amede. Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi needs to take immediate action. His administration needs to quit politicking the situation here.
“They should quit making up tales about our people working together. That is a myth that deflects focus away from the important issues. In order to continue killing and destroying our people, armed Fulani herdsmen and Agala people in Benue State have banded together. That is the circumstance. We haven’t seen any police here since the beginning of the most recent attacks in October. If the police are present, it is only because their commissioner is coming to observe the damage before returning to Enugu to spread lies. Where are the tactical units and operational resources of the police that he claimed to have deployed through the media to Nigerians?
“We are curious about which security organizations in Enugu State are defending their interests. Could it be that the Enugu State security chiefs are there to protect armed herdsmen?
The state police leadership has, however, verified the recent attack without disclosing the number of casualties.
DSP Daniel Ndukwe, the command’s press secretary, told reporters in Enugu that the “sketchy information at my disposal reveals that there was an attack.”
However, he continued, “the attackers were repelled by a joint police and army squad that is now tracking them.
(SAHARAREPORTERS)
