Tension as herdsmen with dangerous weapons invade Enugu community

- Sporadic shooting by suspected Fulani herdsmen has caused panic in some communities in Isi-Uzo LGA of Enugu state

- A native of Neke community, Mr Chidi Odoh, says the shootings started since Monday night, April 24, up till Tuesday, April 25

- The security adviser to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Gen Fred Eze (rtd) however, said the situation is not as bad, based on the interim report he received

Sporadic shooting by suspected Fulani herdsmen has thrown Neke and other communities in Isi-Uzo local government area of Enugu state into panic.

The situation has reportedly led to residents fleeing the area.

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A native of Neke community, Mr Chidi Odoh, told Vanguard that the shootings started since Monday night, April 24, up till Tuesday, April 25 at Ndiagu Umuegwu, an area between Neke and Obollo communities.

“I heard the gunshots not more than five minutes ago. They have been shooting there since last night but our people have mobilized to go there,” Odoh said.

However, the security adviser to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Gen Fred Eze (rtd), said the situation was not as bad, based on the interim report he received.

Eze said it maybe herdsmen moving from the North to Ebonyi state, adding that he has mobilized both the army and the divisional police office at Ikem to the scene.

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He said: “Based‎ on the interim report before me, there is no cause for alarm and security operatives have been dispatched to the area. I even spoke with the leader of heardmen in Isi-Uzo who told me he directed the herdsmen to leave Neke.

“I am also aware that Neke community has not had issues with herdsmen earlier than now and so the situation is being monitored.”

Also, the caretaker committee vice chairman of Isi-Uzo local government, Samuel Ugwede, stated that they were moving with security personnel to the area.

The development is coming few days after residents of Ndiagu-Umunafor, Mburubu, in Nkanu-east council area of the state, raised the alarm about the movement of armed herdsmen in their community.

NAIJ.com learnt that the herdsmen, who are reportedly possessing dangerous weapons, took over farms in the community, destroying farm crops.

Meanwhile, Usman Ngelzarma is the national secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria and he is not happy with the Nigerian news media.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, April 25, he said that members of the association had lost over two million cows to rustlers in the last two years.

Speaking in Jalingo, he also said no fewer than 600 members of the association were killed, while several others were kidnapped for ransom.

Ngelzarma said that the herdsmen were attacked, killed and their animals forcefully taken away in many parts of the country.

In the video below, NAIJ.com visits Southern Kaduna, where residents narrate how herdsmen allegedly prevented them from getting Red Cross relief materials.