A devastating trail of destruction and displacement has been left in the wake of relentless attacks by assailants suspected to be herdsmen on farm settlements in Eha-Amufu, Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State, for years.
No fewer than 44 farm settlements, known as ‘Ndiagu’, have been overrun, with residents forced to flee their homes and seek shelter in neighbouring communities. The affected communities include Abor Ishala, Mgbuji, Agu-Amede, Eha-Agu, and Umuhu.
The latest and most populated farm settlement to come under attack by marauding herdsmen was Ndiagu Amofia village in Umuhu Eha-Amufu autonomous community on February 28. Residents were forced to flee their homes and seek shelter in neighbouring communities.
In Abor, no fewer than nine farm settlements were overrun by the militias, who sacked the residents and took over their homes with their families.
The affected settlements in Abor are Ogomungo, Ngele-Akpankpa, Okwum, Agerie, Ezegwu-Abor, Ashinu, Ovokpo, Mgbede-Abor, and Ngele-Acho. In Umujoovu village, four farm settlements were sacked: Mgbede, Edu, Nditsion, and Onuashinu.
In Agu-Amede autonomous community, nine farm settlements were overrun and taken over by the assailants. The settlements are Okpokwu, Uzamuado, Oduba-uzame, Onuchukwu, Efuakpa, Ogeriaba, Okpurugwu, Iyiasa, and Ikpakpara.
In the Eha-Agu autonomous community, three farm settlements were sacked, with residents completely displaced and denied access to their homes and palm plantations. The settlements are Odenigbo, Ashinu, and Isu.
In the Mgbuji autonomous community, 18 farm settlements were sacked, with residents seeking shelter in the Enugu metropolis and with family relations in other safe communities. The community settlements are completely occupied by marauding herdsmen.
The community settlements are completely occupied by marauding herdsmen are – “Okpokwu, Okpurugwu, Obodomba, Uloumuorgirie, Ugwuoka, Ngele-Aguiyi, Ogbete-Obibi, Ogbete-Umulo, Agerie, Unuanu, Obodo-Ede, Ukwuakwa, Unomgbede, Iyiasa, Onu-Ashinu, Ubi, Ezegwu, Omulo.”
In Umuhu Eha-Amufu autonomous community, the last farm settlement sacked is “Ndiagu Amofia”.
According to SaharaReporters’ investigation, the attacks on the communities, which share boundaries with communities in Benue State, started in 2002. However, the vicious attacks and land-grabbing intensified in 2020 during President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
