UPDATE: 48 Killed, 56 Injured, As Fulani Herdsmen Attack Enugu Communities
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No fewer than 40 persons were killed, 56 injured and over 60 houses and shops set ablaze after Fulani herdsmen invaded Ukpabi, Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, The Nation gathered.
The attack came two days after a security report hinted of an impending attack by not less than 500 heavily armed Fulani herdsmen in the area.
About seven villages in Nimbo (Nimbo Ngwoko, Ugwuijoro, Ekwuru, Ebor, Enugu Nimbo, Umuome and Ugwuachara) were among the areas attacked in the early hours of Monday.
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Ten residential houses and a church were also said to have been burnt by the herdsmen just as vehicles and motorcycles were destroyed and domestic animals killed.
According to the residents, the herdsmen “were indiscriminately shooting and cutting our kinsmen with machetes”.
“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 resident said.
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Meanwhile, Igbo group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has condemned the government over its failure to address the Fulani herdsmen attacks.
A statement by the group’s Secretary General, Dr Joe Nwaorgu warned that if the government fails to contain the issue immediately, it might lead to a catastrophe.
The statement read: We are very sad and very disappointed that all over the country, not just the South-East, these killings by Fulani herdsmen have continued unabated and nothing concrete is being done by the Federal Government,” he said according to Vanguard.
“The first act of governance is protection of lives and property. It is complete failure of governance. There has been no response from the Federal Government and this is allowing the Fulani herdsmen to continue the killing spree.
“Everybody is worried about the poor attitude of the Federal Government to this massacre across the country. Boko Haram is operating in the North-East and Fulani herdsmen are killing people all over the country. It is not the herdsmen that should be held responsible, but owners of the cattle.
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“The herdsmen are under the instruction of highly-placed Fulani people who own the cattle. They are heavily armed. How many cows can the herdsmen buy? Federal Government should stop this nonsense before it causes a catastrophe,” he added.
