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Villagers of Eha-Amufu community in Isi-Uzo Local Government, Enugu State under the umbrella of the Eha-Eha-Amufu Peoples Forum on Friday, claimed that over 1000 people had been killed since 2021 due to land dispute.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja which was monitored by The Eastern Updates, the Chairman of the Forum, Ifeanyichukwu Casimir, further explained that some of the killings took in December after a truck was said to be in transit along the Eha-Amufu-Nkalagu highway, conveying passengers and motorcycles, adding that unknown men reportedly barricaded the highway and flagged down the truck to a stop.
He added that a fracas was said to have ensued between the unknown group and the truck driver and passengers which resulted to the killings of some people.
Casmir claimed that the truck was not waylaid at Eha-Amufu, noting that the people who waylaid the truck and carried out the dastardly act were not from Eha-Amufu.
While chronicling some of the killings he said: “On Friday 1, January: Anglican clergy attacked and wounded at Ogbete Mgbuji.
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“March 11th: Chinwuba Nnaji killed.24th May: 4 persons, including husband and wife, murdered by Fulani men.1st August 2021: 8 persons murdered at Agu Mgbuji.6th Jan. 2022: 12 indigenes of Mgbuji and unknown numbers of Ezza people, killed at Ogbete.8/12/2022: 51persons killed at Mgbuji. Same date, 25 persons killed at Abor.Not less than 50 persons so far killed at Agu-Amede. Umuhu and Amede: 2 and 3 deaths respectively.”
He claimed that both the State government and the General Officer Commanding (GOC) the 82 Division of the Nigeria Army Enugu have been uncooperative in dealing with the attacks in Eha-Amufu.
“We are confounded by the fact that the General Officer Commanding (GOC) the 82 Division of the Nigeria Army Enugu has been uncooperative in dealing with the attacks in Eha-Amufu.
“We are worried about his records which are not such as to inspire confidence in the purity of his intentions to confront our attackers and help bring peace in Eha-Amufu.
“It is on record that while he served in similar capacity in Kaduna, there was a surge in catastrophe and vexed slaughters of communities by gunmen.
“It is on record that while he was redeployed to Southwest Nigeria, the skirmishes and mass killings in the land doubled— hark back to the Ondo Church shooting!
“The serial attacks on Eha-Amufu by gunmen on 8th and 9th December, and on a nearby community where 16 persons were killed on 19th December re-awakens the GOC’s records and we are deeply worried,” he claimed.
He, also, complained that despite the atrocities that have rocked the community, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has assisted the villagers.
