ATTACK IN ENUGU FARM SETTLEMENTS LEAVES STATE GOVERNMENT LOOKING TO VIGILANTES FOR PROTECTION

The Enugu State Government has summoned an emergency meeting with all the security heads and stakeholders in the Eha-Amufu, Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of the state.

The meeting, which will hold today, (Saturday) is to discuss as herdsmen said to be in military and police uniforms on Thursday, attacked traders at Orie Ogbete Mgbuji market and killed many people.

It was in the news that herdsmen sacked five village farm settlements in Mgbuji Eha-Amufu autonomous community on Tuesday and had since remained in those settlements destroying properties and burning houses.

Police and other security agencies have equally refused to come to assist the community. The police were equally said to have asked local vigilantes to lead the operation against the killer herdsmen.

A community leader in Mgbuji, Chief Eric Ebeh, on Friday, said three more bodies killed on Thursday attack had been recovered whileh so many people are still missing.

Chief Ebeh said, “In the afternoon yesterday (Thursday) people in military and police uniforms that numbered over 40 stormed Orie Ogbete Mgbuji market and started shooting traders. Some people were burnt with motorcycles while others were burnt inside their shops.

“We have recovered three bodies this morning. We cannot go inside the village to search for more dead bodies and evacuate them because the town had a red zone.”

Ebeh, who lamented the level of destruction done to the community with security agencies showing indifference to their plight, noted that more than 100 hectares of rice farms were destroyed.

“My 50 hectares of rice that is ready for harvest this January and cassava farms were completely destroyed by same suspects.”

Meanwhile, the state has invited all the heads of security agencies in Isi-Uzo Local Government, traditional rulers from Eha-Amufu, Isi-Uzo Local Government Chairman, youth leaders, all President Generals, all clergy from Eha-Amufu and all heads of Forest Guards and Neighbourhood Watch groups for an emergency security meeting to find a lasting solution all forms of insecurity in the country.