Mayhem as Fulani herdsmen attack Enugu community

At least 10 persons have been reported dead and several houses burnt following an attack on Mgbagbu-Owa community in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State by Fulani herdsmen.

The attack, considered to be a reprisal, was carried out by the armed herders in the middle of the night.

It was gathered that this came after the community’s vigilante had days ago mobilized to the bush where they chased the herders away for grazing on farmlands.

According to the President General of Mgbagbu-Owa Town Union, Mr. Ikechukwu Ike, some women who went to the farm ran back and reported that herdsmen were freely allowing their cattle to graze on cassava and maize farms.

He said, “angered by this, the President of Mgbagbu-Owa youths, Mr Chidi Celestine Mgbachi, whose mother was directly involved, mobilized the members of the vigilante and they headed for the farm.

“On getting there, they got a resistance from the herders who were all armed with AK-47 rifles.

“Our people who were less prepared had to retreat.

However, after they got well prepared, they returned to the place and chased the herders and their cattle away.”

The Community leader, however, said a few days later, the herders launched a ferocious night attack on the natives, leading to the killing of no less than 10 persons and setting of houses ablaze.

“They claimed that our youths killed their cattle and wounded some of them boys.

But my question is- should we equate cattle with lives of human beings?”

He said to make the matters worse, security agencies stormed the community in the midst of the destruction and accused the youths of inviting members of the Eastern Security Network, ESN, an arm of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

“They tagged them IPOB members and declared them wanted.

“This is a continuation of the oppression of the Igbo people of the Eastern Nigeria by the Fulani dominated security agencies in the country.

“The people they declared wanted include the President of our youths, Chidiebere Celestine Mgbachi, the chairman of the vigilante, Christian Ozor, as well as three other youths.

“This is unacceptable; long shall we continue to suffer injustice?” He lamented. Meanwhile, Mr Mgbachi, Chidiebere’s father, who spoke to journalists, said he was traumatized by the development.

He lamented that the Fulani, aided by security agencies burnt down his house.

“These are the same people that destroyed our farmlands; the only crime the youths committed is going to chase the cattle away from our farms.

“As if that was not enough, they not invaded this place and set my house ablaze; right now I am homeless.

“To worsen the matter, the police tagged my son IPOB member and declared him wanted,” he sobbed.

While declaring that his son, Chidiebere is not a member of IPOB, he rued what he called endless persecution of Ndigbo in Nigeria.

“They should leave my son alone; he is not a member of IPOB; and even if he is a member, it is not a crime for people to demand for a country of their own.

“I have lost my house, my son is also on the run; this is disheartening.

“We have suffered enough in Nigeria,” he cried out.