Uzo-Uwani Crisis: Insurgents Kill 25, Sack Villages In Enugu

BY ONYEKACHUKWU IBEZIM – Insurgents have reportedly killed more than 25 persons and injured scores in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area (LGA) of Enugu State following an unprovoked attack on the agrarian communities.

According to reports, given the intensity of the attackers, suspected to be herdsmen, many families are fleeing to Anambra and Kogi for their safety and security.

It was further gathered that with rising fear of further violence in the area known as Enugu’s food basket, some of the community members have vowed to stop the invaders as they cannot just abandon their ancestral lands for ‘criminal elements’

One member of the local vigilante group, who gave his name as Godwin Ezugwu, while recounting the terror visited on the communities by the attackers, criticized the delayed response by security agencies.

He stated thus; “The incident became horrifying as the new Enugu Police Commissioner, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, last week denied publicly that there was any sign of insecurity problems”.

Further highlighting atrocities committed by the criminal elements in recent times, Ezugwu said these include the machete killing of a vigilante member, Chijioke Anioke at Ekenwaozege junction; the murder of Nwa Black in Opanda, Adani; and the kidnapping of ENTRACO driver Patty Ozor, with one passenger shot dead.

Meanwhile, in an SOS message sent to Governor Peter Mbah, the Community leaders expressed frustration over the inaction of Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area Chairman, Chijioke Ezugwu, a former vigilante leader, requesting he should be summoned for questioning.

It was gathered that despite having reported the frequent abductions and killings of farmers over the past two months, nothing has been done to assure the people of the safety.

Referring to a recent comments by the DSS Director General Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, who spoke on the need for communities to arm themselves for self-defense, warning, the Community Leaders said; “Fulanis have declared war on Nigerians, especially Southern Nigeria and the government seems to be turning a blind to this dangerous threat.”

Sources close to the Community Leaders claimed that a 2024 security summit proposed by Senator Chuka Utazi and Uzo-Uwani Professionals in Nsukka was reportedly ignored by the State government, a development that further deepened local concerns about its readiness to tackle the insurgency and insecurity challenges.