Uzo-Uwani under siege: 25 dead, communities displaced

DDM News

A deadly wave of violence has engulfed Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area (LGA) of Enugu State, leaving at least 25 people dead.

Diaspora digital media (DDM) gathered that Dozens of others have been injured in what locals describe as a surge of coordinated attacks by suspected armed herdsmen.

The violence has disrupted life in multiple farming villages across the region, forcing hundreds of residents to flee their ancestral homes.

Many families have taken refuge in neighbouring states such as Kogi and Anambra, seeking safety from further bloodshed.

Those left behind live in fear, as gunshots and attacks have become a part of daily existence in the once peaceful agrarian zone.

Uzo-Uwani is widely regarded as Enugu State’s agricultural hub and an essential contributor to the state’s food supply.

Eyewitness accounts and testimonies from local vigilante members paint a picture of horror and helplessness.

Godwin Ezugwu, a member of the local security team, expressed frustration over the government’s failure to respond swiftly.

He criticised the new Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, for denying that insecurity exists in the area.

Ezugwu stated that the denial came despite multiple attacks being reported to security agencies in recent weeks.

Among the numerous incidents, he highlighted the gruesome machete killing of vigilante member Chijioke Anioke at Ekenwaozege junction.

In a separate attack, a man popularly known as Nwa Black was murdered in Opanda, Adani.

Another violent episode involved the kidnapping of ENTRACO driver Patty Ozor, during which one passenger was shot dead by the attackers.

These tragic events have shaken the community and eroded public trust in the state’s security framework.

Community leaders have sent a Save Our Souls (SOS) message to Governor Peter Mbah, urging immediate action.

They accused Uzo-Uwani LGA Chairman, Hon. Chijioke Ezugwu, of negligence and failure to protect his people.

Ironically, the chairman is a former vigilante commander now facing public scrutiny and calls for accountability.

Reports say he has been summoned for questioning over his handling of the crisis.

Leaders from various villages said that farmer kidnappings and murders have become frequent over the past two months.

They lamented that their alerts to both local and state authorities have been repeatedly ignored.

Some opinion leaders, referencing comments from DSS Director General Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, called on communities to prepare for self-defense.

They warned that, “Fulanis have declared war on Nigerians, especially in Southern Nigeria,” and urged residents to be vigilant.

Calls for responsible civilian arming are increasing as residents feel abandoned by government security structures.

The growing sense of betrayal is intensified by the state government’s dismissal of a proposed 2024 security summit.

The summit was initiated by Senator Chuka Utazi in collaboration with the Uzo-Uwani Professionals Association based in Nsukka.

Its goal was to foster dialogue and develop a roadmap for securing the volatile region, but it was reportedly ignored.

This has fueled public anger and deepened fears that the government is indifferent to rural insecurity.

The Uzo-Uwani conflict is not a recent development.

The area has experienced recurring waves of violence linked to farmer-herder tensions for over a decade.

In April 2016, suspected herdsmen attacked the Nimbo community, killing over 40 residents in one of the region’s deadliest massacres.

That attack attracted national outrage and exposed the vulnerability of rural communities in Nigeria’s southeastern states.

Uzo-Uwani shares borders with Kogi and Benue States, placing it along a known migration route for pastoralists.

Its rich farmland and water sources make it a frequent target for encroachment by armed herders seeking grazing land.

Over the years, community members have formed vigilante groups as a form of local resistance and protection.

However, these local efforts are often outmatched by the superior weapons and mobility of the attackers.

Despite promises of increased security by successive governments, little has changed on the ground.

Locals say government interventions are often reactive, arriving only after lives and property have already been lost.

As the violence continues, calls for the establishment of state police and more proactive community-based defense systems have grown louder.

Without swift, coordinated, and transparent intervention, Uzo-Uwani risks becoming a permanent theatre of bloodshed and displacement.

The people of Uzo-Uwani are demanding not only protection but also justice, support, and a long-term plan for peace.

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