A joint security team comprising soldiers, police, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) attacked thousands of women protesting against herdsmen killings in Eha-Amufu, Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State.
Reports indicate that the Enugu State government, led by Governor Peter Mbah, deployed the security forces to suppress news of herdsmen attacks and insecurity in the state.
According to community sources, the protest escalated when the women, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, captured two individuals suspected of orchestrating herdsmen attacks. While one suspect escaped, the women paraded the other through their communities. The government then dispatched soldiers, anti-riot police, and NSCDC personnel to intervene.
Mrs. Regina Odoh, a leading protester, described the confrontation: “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.”
Videos and audio recordings captured the women accusing Council Chairman Obiora Obeagu of benefiting from the bloodshed caused by herdsmen in Eha-Amufu over the past five years.
In one clip, a woman, apparently a spokesperson for the protesters, said: “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 concluded, “if the government and security agencies cannot protect us they shouldn’t suppress our outcry.”
