Tension has gripped the Mgbuji community in Eha-Amufu, Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State, following a violent attack by armed herdsmen on Friday, News360 Nigeria reports.
The assault claimed the lives of three farmers, left several others injured, and caused extensive damage to rice farms awaiting harvest.
Shocking photo from the scene showed one victim slaughtered in his rice field, a basket of freshly harvested cassava nearby. The attack is part of a recurring crisis in Eha-Amufu, where between 2017 and 2022, suspected Fulani militias reportedly destroyed over 20 farm settlements and killed at least 123 residents.
Ogenyi Odoh, a community leader, expressed deep concern over the escalating violence. Speaking with SaharaReporters, he decried the killing of the farmers and the destruction of farmlands, emphasizing that attacks on rice farms have been ongoing for two weeks.
Further complicating the crisis, injured victims seeking medical help have been turned away by the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUT Parklane) due to an ongoing workers’ strike.
Odoh also revealed that soldiers previously deployed to strategic locations in Eha-Amufu had been withdrawn without explanation, leaving the community vulnerable to renewed attacks. He has called on both the federal and state governments to urgently address the situation and restore security to the area.
He said, “Today three people who went to their farms were killed in a most savagery brutality. What is their offence? They went to their farms and while they were in their farms, herdsmen entered the farms and start eating it. They were asked to leave and the next thing was to kill them. As you can see in one of the video clips, the man was killed in his rice farm.
“You can also see in the video the large rice farm that Fulani herdsmen maliciously destroyed after four months hard work.
“Is there a conspiracy, otherwise, how come after the Nigerian Army withdrew soldiers deployed to Eha-Amufu prior to the election and attacks and killings resumed?”
He added, “Only about six soldiers are in entire Eha-Amufu with 100s of kilometers border with Benue State. Our vigilantes are working but there is not much they can do. The herders are armed with AK-47 rifles with several loaded magazines.
“The man they (herders) butchered that was brought to Parklane hospital was rejected. As we speak doctors are battling to save him at a private hospital where a whooping N3 million was demanded before even commencing treatment. So, you can see the severity.”
Meanwhile, efforts to speak with the Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe were unsuccessful as he did not take his calls.
