A combined team of Nigerian security agencies, comprising soldiers, police, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), unleashed mayhem on thousands of women protesting against herdsmen killings in Eha-Amufu, Isi-Uzu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
SaharaReporters learned that the soldiers and police were deployed by the Enugu State government, led by Governor Peter Mbah, who allegedly wanted to suppress reports of herdsmen attacks and insecurity in the state.
Community sources revealed that trouble started when the women, numbering hundreds of thousands, apprehended two individuals, accused of masterminding herdsmen attacks in Eha-Amufu.
While one of them escaped, the women held the other suspect and paraded him through the communities. The government then deployed soldiers, anti-riot police, and NSCDC personnel to intervene.
Mrs. Regina Odoh, one of the leading protesters, recounted the events: “On getting to Eke, the central market, hundreds of soldiers and policemen blocked us. We pleaded with the security agents to leave our way since they could not protect them. When the security agents refused, we went back to Eha-Ohala and hid him in Umujove community and reinforced in our hundreds and came back to the town.”
“But the soldiers and policemen pursued us and blocked the major road we could come out to the town. On hearing what soldiers and policemen who could not protect us when Fulani herdsmen were attacking, killing, and rapping us, other women from five communities in Eha-Amufu mobilized and stormed the town where the security agents blocked and surrounding them. Immediately, they started shooting both live ammunition and teargas on the protesting women.”
“The women accused them of aiding the atrocities of Fulani herdsmen on their people and still want to shot their mouths from crying to the world. While the soldiers and police were shooting and teargas at them, they responded by pelting them with stones and sticks. In the chaotic scene the security team shot four and wounded several women who have been taken to hospital now.”
In several video and voice clips shared with SaharaReporters, the protesting women were overheard calling the Council chairman, Obiora Obeagu, saboteurs who profit from the blood of hundreds of Eha-Amufu people that herdsmen had killed in the past five years in their farms and homes.
In one of the video clips, a woman who appears to be one of their spokespersons was overheard saying: “Mr. Israel Mgborogwu is from Mgbuji community. He is an agent of government and collaborators of Fulani herdsmen. He works as a media aide to the Isi Uzo LGA chairman Mr Obiora Obeagu.”
“They (Isi-Uzu Council Chairman, Donatus Odoh and Israel) claimed that the woman who died after Fulani herdsmen raped and inserted stick in her private part didn’t die. They went and brought another woman who was earlier raped to claim that no raped woman died. They said that only one person had been killed in Eha-Amufu since November last year. This is a capital lie.”
“In the past two weeks no fewer than four women had been raped in their farm by Fulani herdsmen. They attacked Amofia Umuhu Eha-Amufu village, killed a final year graduate – late Ndubuisi in their compound and shot his uncle on the leg. While Ndubuisi, an only child was buried last week, his uncle is still in hospital. His killers also burnt down two houses and looted four others yet the government officials and some disgruntled elements from the community went to the media to brand our protest sponsored.”
She added, “if the government and security agencies cannot protect us they shouldn’t suppress our outcry.”
