Tension In Enugu Community Over Killing Of 42 year-Old Man By Fulani Herdsmen

By IGNATIUS OKPARA, Enugu

Tension has enveloped Egede community in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, following the killing of a 42 year old man, Mr. Chinwuba Ekwueme ,by Fulani herdsmen.

The late Ekwueme, a father of three and member of the Egede neighbourhood watch was reportedly murdered weekend by AK-47 wielding Fulani herdsmen who were grazing their cattle in the community.

Chairman of the Egede neighbourhood watch Mr. Donatus Otie narrated how the deceased was butchered by the herdsmen after other vigilante colleagues took to their heels as the cattle men came shooting at them.

In his reaction, the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Polycarp Oyigbo, lamented the reoccurrence of the nomads`attack against his subjects, and wondered why government had not been able to offer measures towards saving them from the strangers` brutality.

The Monarch, noted that the community leadership had been prevailing on the youths to avoid reprisal attack, expressing hope that the police would keep to their promise of bringing the culprits to book.

His words: “I do not know whether it would have been better to allow them to take laws into their hands;so government should take appropriate actions to end the menace”

Also commenting on the ugly development, President General of the Town Union, Ichie Clement Amuji expressed worry of the pain and sorrow the fulani men have inflicted on his people.

“The attack by these herdesmen has become a menace to our people.

” We have been complaining to the government; we have written several letters to Udi LGA, and the DPO 9th-Mile.

“This has been happening; they have been destroying our crops, raping our women.

“They killed a young man from Umuanum about three years ago, it is very sad because it has repeated itself.”

He therefore, appealed to the government to come to the aide of the community and to provide arms with which the vigilant can contain the herdsmen.

AFRICAN EXAMINER gathered that After an encounter with villagers, the herdsmen re-appeared after about three hours later shooting and scaring away members of the vigilante most of whom took to their heels.

The deceased was however, not lucky as he was surrounded by the cattle men that eventually gave him severe machete cuts that led to his death.