Residents Applaud Mbah, Police Intervention In Enugu Community Killing

Despite security beef-up by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in some border communities of Enugu State, a fresh attack by suspected herders in Nimbo community of Uzo Uwani local government area has rattled the residents.

They, however, expressed optimism that the prompt intervention by Governor Peter Mbah and the police authorities will bring lasting peace to the area.

More than 20 people were killed in the community in 2016 by some suspected herders, which forced the residents of the area to flee into the bush for fear of more attacks.

The immediate past governor of the state, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, could not hold back his tears when he visited Ukpabi, Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani council, where the herdsmen killed the victims.

Ugwuanyi was accompanied to the area by the then Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Nwodibo Ekechukwu, and the then GOC 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, the Enugu State commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The residents spoke with LEADERSHIP against the background of another attack in the community last month, where four people were killed and many wounded by suspected herdsmen.

The herders invaded Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani council, which made Governor Mbah to visit the community and read the riot act to the perpetrators of the heinous act.

Some residents told LEADERSHIP that herdsmen attacked mourners at Ugwuijoro Nimbo community killing four people instantly.

One of them, Chijoke Okunna, told our correspondent that seven people were seriously inflicted with machete cuts.

But the villagers, who deplored the poor handling of the 2016 attack, have expressed happiness over the swift response of Governor Mbah and the state commissioner of police, Kanayo Uzuegbu.

Mbah had visited the community and warned that the attack was unacceptable and any recurrence would not be tolerated.

Similarly, the commissioner of police vowed that he would make sure that there will be no reoccurrence of the menace.

He disclosed that since Nimbo is a border community, he will partner with police commissioners in neighbouring states to fight such crimes

Also, many are of the view that the recently passed Public Ranch Agency Bill which provided ways for the management of both government and privately-owned ranches in the state would work and stop the killings.

They believe that the proposed law will put an end to the farmers/headers crisis that has been leading to the loss of lives.

It is also believed in many quarters that the bill will make it a must for herders to register whenever they enter into any community.