Armed Herdsmen Declare War On Enugu Communities, Kill Many Residents, Sack More Villages

In what will come across as a really shocking development, some armed herdsmen have declared war in Eha-Amufu Communities in Isi-Uzo local government area of Enugu State.

This is as they killed many and sacked more villages on Tuesday morning.

SaharaReporters had reported that the armed herdsmen had invaded Agu-Amede community on Saturday and Monday, killing no fewer than 10 people including women and children.

It had been reported that the invading herders also wounded many and sacked villages, and burnt houses.

SaharaReporters had earlier reported that armed herdsmen had sacked over 14 local villages in Agu-Amede and Mgbuji communities since the second quarter of 2021.

It was also reported that so many people were killed with properties worth millions of naira destroyed.

Also, many people including children had been kidnapped by same armed herdsmen who use Benue State as launching pad for ransom.

SaharaReporters reliably gathered that armed herdsmen who were numbering over hundred launched the recent attack on Saturday and Sunday from Ohualu Mgbede Village in Agu-Amede community and killed eight people including two children.

A community leader, Ogbu Francis who confirmed the incident told SaharaReporters that the armed herdsmen returned on Tuesday, morning, "this time they opened several fronts, shooting, destroying properties and sacking villages."

According to Ogbu, "Yesterday’s attack was carried out in a village called Ohualu Mgbede in Agu-Amede community and they killed seven persons we have recovered their corpses.

"This Tuesday morning, the Fulani herdsmen came again in a village called Iyi Asa in Agu-Amede shooting, burning houses and properties. As we speak they are still attacking villages. We do know how many people that have been killed. They are in three villages now shooting. The military is also engaging them now. Agu-Amede community is under siege."

Also, the herdsmen who are reportedly carrying machine guns and heavy weapons are currently attacking Mgbuji and Eboh Communities in Eha-Amufu.

Cyprian Ezedeoga, who confirmed the attack, said the Fulani herdsmen had entered the Mgbuji and Eboh towns.

"They have killed many people also as we speak. There is no security either military or police. Our people are in there mercy. I have received information that 10 people have been killed in Eboh and five in Mgbuji.

"Residents are fleeing communities as we speak. My own house has been destroyed this morning. We need help. Military plane that are bombing ESN camps in other Communities should be deployed in our community. Armed herdsmen are currently overrunning villages. Nigerian Army should deploy troops here," he lamented.

A videos of the attack, seen by SaharaReporters on Monday evening, shows that many of the deceased had their throats slited, with multiple machete cuts in their heads.

Another community leader, Augustine Odoh, also confirmed the attack, adding that the fulani herdsmen had declared war on Eha-Amufu.

Odo said that the herdsmen were currently attacking three communities in Eha-Amufu and residents are fleeing to Ebonyi State.

According to him, they are calling Eha-Amufu pro people living outside to come home to defend their communities.

"Our people were having meeting this morning on how to carry those they killed on Saturday and Monday to Government House in Enugu State capital before they launched another attack this morning.

"As we speak, everybody is running helter-skelter. Some are relocating their families to Ebonyi communities that are close to Eha-Amufu."

Lamenting the incessant attack by Fulani herdsmen, Odo said "Our people cannot confront them with bare hands. They come in their numbers with AK-47 rifles with other dangerous weapons, shooting and destroying for hours unchallenged.

"The government will only deploy soldiers in communities in other South East to hounds and kill members of pro-Biafra groups especially the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) but same soldiers cannot be deployed to our communities to stop herdsmen and Islamic terrorists attacks. That is the hypocrisy in this government."

SaharaReporters' efforts to get reaction of the Enugu State Police Command were not successful as the spokesman, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, did not take his calls.