‘Many killed’ as gunmen attack communities in Enugu

An unconfirmed number of people have been killed following an attack by gunmen in Agu-Amede, Mgbuji and Eboh communities in Isi-Uzo LGA of Enugu.

The attackers were said to have invaded the communities early Wednesday morning.

They were alleged to have also set fire to several houses while many sustained injuries in the process.

Confirming the incident, Samuel Ezeh, a community leader, said the attackers were herders, adding that they killed 13 persons.

“Yesterday’s attack was carried out in a village called Ohualu Mgbede and seven persons were confirmed dead. That is for those we have recovered their corpses. This morning, the Fulani herdsmen came again in a village called Iyi Asa but no death has been reported yet,” Punch quoted Ezeh as saying.

Chijioke Ogbodo, spokesperson for the Mgbuji community, said the attackers operated successfully despite distress calls put to security operatives.

“Since the (herdsmen) started attacking our community, neither the police nor the military has arrested any of the terrorists. We received information on the attack this morning and alerted all the security agencies,” Ogbodo said.

“I called the state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; I called the state director of security services, and I called the state commissioner of police.

“We have notified all the security agencies but as of 12pm, we are yet to see any single soldier or police.

“If the Nigerian police and other security agencies, especially the military cannot protect the people of the south-east, then why are they after the Eastern Security Network that helped communities farmed this season. Now we can’t harvest our crops because so many of the ESN members have been killed.”

When contacted, Daniel Ndukwe, police spokesperson in Enugu, said he was not aware of the incident.

The development comes days after gunmen killed Gabriel Onuzulike, a former commissioner of rural development in the state.

Onuzulike was killed alongside his brother in the Nkpokolo-Achi area of Oji-River LGA.