INSECURITY: Fresh Tragedy Hits Enugu as Suspected Herdsmen Kill Four, Seven Still Missing

At least four villagers have been confirmed dead, and seven others declared missing following a brutal attack by suspected herdsmen in Ikpakpara, a community within Agu-Amede, Eha-Amufu, Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The deadly assault occurred on Sunday evening but was confirmed Monday by Ogbuzuru Ebe, a prominent community leader, who spoke with journalists by phone. “We just recovered four bodies of people killed on their farms,” Ebe said. “We are still searching for seven others who have not returned since the attack.”

The latest assault is part of a relentless wave of violence that has plagued Eha-Amufu, where suspected herders have repeatedly targeted farming communities. In addition to the growing death toll, past attacks have been marked by rampant sexual violence against women and destruction of farmlands—leaving residents in a constant state of fear and displacement.

Local leaders have expressed outrage and despair over what they describe as the government’s failure to act. “We feel abandoned,” one elder said. “The authorities are not doing enough to stop these killings.”

Community members have also pointed fingers at the Isi-Uzo Local Government Chairman, accusing him of offering little to no tangible support in terms of security coordination or emergency response.

This latest incident has again spotlighted the escalating security crisis in Enugu State, particularly the volatile farmer-herder conflict that continues to wreak havoc on rural communities.

Ironically, the massacre happened just a day after the Enugu State Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, led a high-powered security patrol to Eha-Amufu. The visit, described as a “routine surveillance and confidence-building operation,” included top-ranking officers like DCP Gregory Itobore, ACP Bernard Amaga Ukwa, and other tactical heads.

Residents, however, say patrols offer little comfort in the face of repeated bloodshed. “What we need is action, not photo-ops,” one frustrated youth leader remarked.

As the community reels from yet another tragedy, the calls for urgent, decisive government intervention grow louder. For the people of Eha-Amufu, the question remains: how many more lives must be lost before security becomes more than a promise?