FULANI HERBSMEN REPORTEDLY KILLED SCORES OF PEOPLE IN ENUGU.

Vanguard reports that Fulani Herdsmen invaded Ukpabi Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State in the early of hours of Monday, killing scores of persons with others fleeing to Nkpologu and Uvuru communities whose inhabitants had fled to Nsukka for fear of attacks.

Confirming the incident to Vanguard, Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amaraizu said that a combined team of the Army and Police Force have moved to the area.

 

This is following a report by Vanguard that said that about 500 Fulani Herdsmen gathered in the community to launch an attack on the people.

 

The report also said that the Chairman, Transition Committee, Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, Cornell Onwubuya, reportedly alerted Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and the state Commissioner of Police, Ekechukwu Nwodibo on the development.

 

It said that Onwubuya also meet with the Fulani leader in the community who assured them that there will be no crises and that he would talk to his people.

 

Death toll
No fewer than five people in Nimbo, Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State were on Monday killed by suspected herdsmen.

Police & Community Action
The spokesman of the police in Enugu State, Ebere Amaraizu, confirmed the incident to newsmen in Nsukka.
Amaraizu said the Commissioner of Police, Nwodibo Ekechukwu, had already moved to the local government to ensure that normalcy returned.
The Chairman of Uzo-Uwani local government, Cornell Onwubuya, who also confirmed the incident, regretted that in spite of efforts to stop the crisis through dialogue, the suspected herdsmen had continued to attack the people.

“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.

Eyewitness Account
 An eyewitness who pleaded anonymity told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Nsukka 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.

Weeping in the Streets
 NAN reports that residents of Nsukka wept uncontrollably when the five bodies from Nimbo were being deposited at the Bishop Shanahan Hospital, Nsukka.

A resident, Dennis, urged the Federal Government to urgently intervene in the activities of the herdsmen before it escalated to a full blown war.

“It is unfortunate that people can be mercilessly killed without human feeling.

“You can see how these people were killed and sliced like bread; people should respect the sanctity of human life,” he said.

NAN reports that scores of the people who fled from Nimbo are now taking refuge in some primary schools in Nsukka.