A long trail of destruction has left hundreds displaced as suspected herdsmen have continued their relentless attacks on farm settlements in Eha-Amufu, Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State. The attacks, which have been ongoing for years, have ravaged 44 farm settlements, forcing residents to flee their homes and seek shelter in neighbouring communities.
The affected settlements, which include Abor Ishala, Mgbuji, Agu-Amede, Eha-Agu, and Umuhu, have seen an alarming rise in violence and land grabbing, with the most recent incident occurring on February 28, when Ndiagu Amofia village in Umuhu Eha-Amufu was attacked.
According to Chief Obeagu Odoh, a kinsman of the Isi-Uzo LGA Chairman, the situation has left many residents homeless. “Some are living in Enugu, some hired houses in camps, while others are squatting with relations,” he said. “All the farm settlements in our community are completely deserted. If you dare t
o go there, it is either you are killed or kidnapped for ransom, or you escape with injuries.”
In Abor, at least nine farm settlements, including Ogomungo, Ngele-Akpankpa, and Okwum, have been overrun, with residents fleeing in fear for their lives. Chigbo Okibe, a local resident, revealed the dire situation in the community: “Getting to a year now, three people from Abor who went to harvest their crops in the farm settlements have not been found,” he said. “The matter was reported to the police, yet no one has been held accountable.”
In Agu-Amede, another affected community, nine settlements have been taken over by the assailants. The same fate has befallen Mgbuji, where 18 settlements have been completely occupied. “Mgbuji people, Abor people, and Umujoovu people have all fled their homes. The entire Eha-Amufu is gone,” said Mrs. Chinyere Odoebe, a woman leader from the region.
The scale of the destruction is evident in the abandoned homes and charred ruins left behind. Mrs. Odoebe highlighted the frustration of the locals: “We are not equipped with weapons like they are. How can we combat people with AK-47 rifles? Only the hunters and local vigilantes are securing the community, but they only have Dane guns. When the security agencies see you with a Dane gun, you are accused of carrying weapons, but when Fulani herdsmen attack, you see no one.”
The situation is exacerbated by the lack of government intervention. “There’s none,” Chigbo Okibe lamented. “For our part of Abor and Umujoovu, I have not seen any government intervention. The interventions we received were mainly during the Mgbuji crisis. They started building roads, but that’s it.”
The attacks have caused widespread panic, with many residents now living in constant fear. Mrs. Angela Ogenyi explained how the violence continues even in what should be peaceful times: “Last time we went to the State CID and reported that two of our people were missing, but they’ve still not returned. We have pictures and evidence, but in the end, some people will say nothing is happening.”
She also pointed out that security agencies have failed to protect the community from these ongoing attacks: “When they brought police to the community, the operatives refused to go to the places where the invaders have sacked people from their homes. The school in Ogbete where I schooled, former Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi rebuilt, was burned down by Fulani marauders.”
The situation is further complicated by the alleged involvement of herdsmen from Benue State. Chibuzo Olinya, an affected resident, spoke about how herders have systematically dismantled and occupied their area: “The Fulani herdsmen have either burned down all the houses in those areas or removed their roofing sheets. They are living in some of the houses they didn’t destroy.”
In response to the growing danger, residents are desperate for help. Mrs. Odoebe warned, “The dangerous thing is that the Fulani people are planning to take over the entire Eha-Amufu, especially Agu-made, Eha-Ohala, and other parts of Umuhu autonomous communities. The implications will be dire.”
Despite the severity of the situation, both the Enugu State Police Command and the state government have remained silent. Attempts by SaharaReporters to obtain comments from the authorities were unsuccessful, with calls and messages going unanswered.
As fear and hunger continue to ravage the affected communities, residents are left questioning the commitment of both the government and security agencies to restore peace to the region.
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