Police, Army raid Enugu community, declare four youths wanted

The sleepy Ifo Layout, Abakpa Nike, Enugu State, Nigeria has been hit with crisis following the alleged invasion of the community by a combined team of security agencies.

After the raid which has left the area in devastation, the police have now declared one Ezechi Chibuike Maurice, a native of Okpogho Okube in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State wanted.

He was declared wanted alongside three others: Chukwuma Moses, Oken Oluoma and Emeka Nwachukwu.

Our correspondent gathered that trouble started in the area after suspected Fulani herdsmen killed some natives on 10th March, 2021.

To ward off further attacks, the community leaders were said to have set up a neighbourhood watch group.

However, a few weeks after, the herdsmen returned but they were said to have met stiff resistance mounted by the neighbourhood watch group.

However, a few days after, a combined team of security agencies stormed the community, precisely on 7th April, 2021, claiming that armed militia belonging to the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, killed some Fulani herdsmen and their cattle.

Speaking to journalists on the development, youth leader of Ifo Layout, Abakpa Nike, Chude Chukwudi Collins and his secretary, Mr Eneh Christian Chigozie described the arrest of some youths in the community as an act of provocation.

In a statement they made available to our correspondent, the duo said, “we are sad that the Fulani oligarch has made us refugees in our own land.

“For several days, we were consistently attacked by the rampaging Fulani herdsmen but nobody spoke against it. Many of our women have been raped, men killed and farmland destroyed, but succour did not come from any place.

“On our own we formed a vigilante to defend ourselves because we knew the aggressors would come back.

“As we expected, they returned but met our people prepared; as their mission failed, they ran to the police and claimed that they were attacked by the IPOB members hiding in our community.

“To our greatest chagrin, the security agencies instead of launching a proper investigation jumped into it and headed to our community.

“As we speak, they have set ablaze several houses, claiming the IPOB/ESN members were using those places as hideouts.”

The youth leaders, who demanded immediate release of those arrested during the mayhem, vowed that, “we shall pursue justice for those whose houses were burnt.

“We are also demanding that there should be an end to the arrest of our people; just as we commend the police for declaring our peace-loving youths wanted.”