Suspected herdsmen attack. Enugu Community takes corpse to Local Government Hqtrs

•As Local Government Chairman promises to take action

• Enugu State Commissioner of Police say investigation ongoing

The corpse of the farmer, Eugene Anayo Iloabana killed by suspected herdsmen in Amamkpunato Achi in Oji River LGA Enugu of State was Tuesday  brought to Oji River Local Government council headquarters by angered family and community members.

According to the wife of the Traditional Ruler of Amankpunato Lady Chinyere Gbugu during the protest visit to the Oji River Local Government Chairman “the deceased left for his farm on the morning of Monday 29th June 2020 by but unfortunately, his family did not see him return by the usual evening time. And after much futile anticipation for his return from the farm, his family members alerted the neighbours and the relatives; this gave rise to the emergency search move into the farmland. On reaching there, they found the  lifeless body of Mr. Eugene Anayo Iloabana”.

Lady Gbugu who led the community on the visit with the corpse of the murdered farmer, said this was the second time a member of the community was killed by suspected herdsmen.

She said it was just two weeks ago that the community alerted the security operatives on the incessant invasion of herdsmen in their farmlands, destroying their crops and farmland.

In his reaction, the Chairman of Oji River Local Government Area, Barr. Frank Udemezue while consoling the family  of the deceased,the  community and the entire Oji River people said “This was time to engage our brains and strategize more on the best ways to avert the repeat of this ugly incident in Oji River. The death of our brother Eugene must never be swept under the carpet”.

The Chairman said he would not sit down and watch foreigners dislodge Oji River people from Oji River and promised  to work within his power and mandate to ensure that this incident must not repeat itself again in Oji River.

He cautioned the youths to sheat their sword and avoid taking laws into their hands, as he was going to meet with various security agencies to ensure nothing like that happened again in Oji River LGA

“The Governor will be informed so that we can quickly save our dear populace who depend mainly on farming as their means of livelihood,” the Chairman promised.

In a release dated 30th June and signed by the Enugu State Police Public Relatios Officer ASP Daniel Ekea, the Command said

“Following a report received at Oji-River Police Station of the Command on 30/06/2020 at about 0800hrs alleging that one Iloabani Eugene Anayo (male) aged 67 years of Amamkpunato Achi, Oji-River was gruesomely murdered by a yet to be identified culprit(s) in a forest in the community, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmad AbdurRahman MCPSS, MCJ, MNIM has directed the immediate launch of a full-scale investigation to apprehend and prosecute the fleeing culprits.

” The Commissioner while condemning such hideous and barbaric act, has warned and directed the Area Commander and Divisional Police Officers within Oji-River Area Command as well as Heads of Tactical and Operational Departments of the Command to deploy all resources at their disposal to fish out and prosecute the culprits.

” Furthermore, the CP has enjoined residents of the area, especially the youths; to maintain peace, avoid taking laws into their hands and/or acting in ways that could jeopardize investigation into the case. He made it clear that the Command, under his watch, will leave no stone unturned to bring culprits of the heinous crime to book.

” Meanwhile, preliminary investigation shows that the deceased was found in Achi forest with several degrees of machete cuts on the head and neck regions, while the corpse has been deposited in the mortuary with investigation ongoing”.

Meanwhile demonstrations are being expected across the entire local government and Enugu, the State capital as communities and indegenes have resolved to make their voices heard.

“This atrocity must end”, a community leader told signaturetv.org at Oji River Tuesday on condition of anonymity. ” We will continue our protest until the Enugu State and the Federal Government take urgent action. If they fail then we are left with no choice but to defend ourselves”.

Earlier Tuesday signaturetv.org reported tension in Amankpunato Achi, a community in Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State, following the murder Tuesday morning of a farmer by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

The victim, Eugene Iloabani, a farmer and wine tapper from Isiokwe village had gone to his farmland yesterday but failed to return home.

A search party discovered his decapitated body in his farm with his hand and legs bound by his killers.

A community leader and a former Councilor  Ugochukwu Omere who spoke to signaturetv.org at Achi said the murder has thrown the community into confusion and fear.

“This is not the first time our people are being senselessly murdered without provocation by these herdsmen. We have protested to the Police and Local Government about these killings and destruction of our farmland, without anything reasonable being done by the authorities rather police came to our place and threatened our people. Please help us we are in danger”.

Another indigene and Zonal Organizing Secretary of the APC, South East, Hon. Timothy Amah described the development as unfortunate and pathetic as this criminality continues unabated.

He said he contacted the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Oji River and he assured him that investigation has started.

“We  are making  efforts to calm our agitated youths and restrain them from carrying out any retaliatory action as we await the State Government’s urgent intervention”.

Meanwhile members of the community have besieged the Oji River LGA headquarters where they are calling on the State and Local Governments to intervene urgently.

Updated

signaturetv.org