Since 2016 when suspected herdsmen attacked Nimbo community in Enugu State, the entire South East has been under severe attacks by all manner of gunmen ranging from herders, soldiers siege, bandits and the recent assaults by yet to be identified persons.
From all indications, the attacks on Igbo nation since 2016 have been taking a particular pattern. The hoodlums would operate and go free without any molestation. It happened in Enugu on April 25, 2021.
According to a recorded account; “Nimbo is a border town in Uzo-Uwani area of Enugu State, Nigeria, where seven villages- Ekwuru, Nimbo-Ngwoko, Ugwuijoro, Ebor, Enugu-Nimbo, Umuome and Ugwuachara were invaded, and scores massacred by over 500 armed Fulani herdsmen, rated the fourth deadliest terror group in the world, in the early hours of April 25, 2016. Uzo Uwani has boundaries with the Southern States of Ebonyi and Anambra, and Central States of Benue and Kogi, where these attacks have increased lately.
“The herdsmen, who reportedly were bent on occupying a portion of the farming community’s land for cattle grazing plotted attack, and went on to notify the natives about their invasion on April 23, 2016. The intelligence was promptly reported to security agencies who met accordingly. However, at about 5.15 am on April 25, 2016, the armed herdsmen numbering over 500 struck killing 40 people.
The following day, April 26, 2016, six more bodies were recovered and 14 victims were lying critically ill at Royal Cross Hospital, Nsukka, Nsukka District General Hospital and Bishop Shanahan Hospital, Nsukka. During the raid, a church, known as Christ Holy Church International (AKA Odozi-Obodo), at Onu-Eke, and 11 houses were burnt by the marauders. As a result of the insecurity, displaced natives fled to neighboring communities of Nkpologu and Uvuru, (Uvuru-Agada) even as indigenes of those communities also fled to Nsukka in fear of further attacks”.
The account added; “Invasion of Ukpabi-Nimbo community, known as “Enugu Massacre”, by roaming Fulani herdsmen followed similar massacre of hundreds of natives in another farming community, Agatu, Benue State by the same herdsmen, just a little over a month.
There was invasion of neighbouring Abbi, another Uzo Uwani community, where a brother and sister-Fidelis and Mercy Okeja were reportedly killed on the spot earlier in February 2016. 19 persons were declared missing whilst seven houses and motorcycles were raised down. It was reported the invasion was carried out by 30 masked Fulani herdsmen.
According to Enugu State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the terrorism at Nimbo may have happened due to inability of security agencies to successfully act on the counter intelligence report about herdsmen grouping at neighbouring Odolu in Kogi State in preparation for attack”.
About five years after the Enugu massacre, it was again alleged that Fulani herdsmen attacked Ngbo community of Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State on March 31, 2021. Report indicated that “many have allegedly lost their lives following the development as houses of innocent indigenes of the area have been burnt down by the rampaging herdsmen”.
Again, the commercial city of Aba in Abia State was under heavy attack following the alleged killing of 11 young men by Nigerian troops stationed at Ariaria Junction along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway on March, 31.
According to a publication, “A military source said that the dead youths were “gunmen,” who were on their way to attack the soldiers but were ambushed and gunned down following intelligence reports. The source said that the gunmen numbering about 50 had engaged troops in gun battle at about 8.00 p.m.
on Tuesday but 11 of them lost their lives in the encounter while there was no casualty on the side of the soldiers”. The Commissioner for Information, Mr. John Okiyi Kalu, said that intelligence at the disposal of the state government was passed to security agencies to act on the information.
As the attacks have berthed in Imo, the killing of both the security forces and civilians, starting in Orlu three months ago, there is palpable tension as which state in the South East will the fire go wild next time?
Already, Imo State is now in the news for the wrong reasons. The Police Command was set ablaze, the federal prisons was also assaulted and prisoners released.
Weeks later, the governor’s house in his home town was equally attacked. Since then, no fewer than four perswons have been killed by soldiers for allegedly not obeying security directives.
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo has called on the security agencies to beef up their activities in the South East in order to forestall more security breaches. The governors in the South East also set up the Ebubeagu security outfit as a way checking security lapses.
As it is, almost all the states in the South East are under attack as last month two security men attached to Prof Chukwuma Soludo were killed during an attack on the ex CBN boss.
Indeed, South East leaders and governors must fashion out ways to ensure that the current attack on Ndigbo are stopped forthright with.
