Five killed, houses razed as Fulani herdsmen invade Enugu community

ÎNo fewer than five people were on Monday killed by Fulani herdsmen when they invaded Ukpabi Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State. Recall that the attack is coming barely two days after security report revealed that Fulani herdsmen were going to invade the community with 500 other herdsmen from Nassarawa State.

Some residents UkpabiNimbo who fled the area said the number of people killed exceeded the five brought to the Bishop Shanahan Hospital, Nsukka by the police after the herdsmen overpowered the combined team of the military and the mobile policemen who were drafted after the report of the invasion filtered into the state. According to the people, the herdsmen came into Ukpabi-Nimbo very early on Monday morning with dangerous weapons, shooting and cutting people with machetes.

When contacted, the Transitional Committee Chairman of Uzo-Uwani, Local Government Area, Hon. Cornell Onwubuya, stated that despite every effort he made to stop the Fulani herdsmen from carrying out their threats, they still went ahead to unleash mayhem on the community. “Yes, there is serious problem in the local government as suspected herdsmen today attacked Nimbo community. “Information reaching us said many people were killed but I do not know the actual number now,” he said. An eyewitness in Nsukka who pleaded anonymity said that the suspected herdsmen numbering up to 300 invaded the community with guns and machetes, shooting sporadically and killing people.

“As they were killing the people, they were also setting houses and vehicles ablaze. Many people have been killed; I do not have the actual number. “The residents of Nimbo and motorists have fled the community for safety,” the witness said. Meanwhile, the Enugu State Police Public Relation Officer, Ebere Amaraizu, told the Daily Times on phone that the Commissioner of Police, Nwaodibo Ekechukwu, was already on ground with other security agencies to make sure the situation was brought under control.

“The police are aware of the attack in Uzo-Uwani and the state commissioner of police is already there to ensure that the situation is brought under control. “The police are also collaborating with sister security agencies like the army, civil defence and the Department of State Services to handle the situation,” he said. Investigation by the Daily Times revealed that displaced people in their hundreds have left Ukpabi-Nimbo to take refuge in Nsukka.