Enugu Herdsmen Attack Death Toll Rises as Youths Threaten Reprisal

Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu

Two days after battling for survival on life-support at the Mother of Christ Hospital following the midnight attack by suspected herdsmen at the Ndiagu Attakwu-Akagbeugwu community in Nkanu West local government area of Enugu state, one of the survivors, a 65-year old Mrs. Ifeoma Agbo has passed on bringing the death toll to two.

A Catholic seminarian, Lazarus Nwafor, was killed during the attack.

Three others, including her two children and her pregnant daughter in-law, are still battling for their lives at the Mother of Christ hospital and the Parklane lane teaching hospital. While Ifeanyi Agbo received severe machete cuts leading to the blockade of his eardrums, his sister’s stomach was ripped open while his pregnant wife had machete cuts on her head.

Agbo reportedly died in the early hours of Saturday. Her remains have been deposited at the UNTH mortuary by family members under the supervision of the chairman of Nkanu West local government area, Afam Okereke. Already, the police in the state said one of the suspects who attacked the community, one Umaru Isah from Gusau, Zamfara state has been arrested and is presently helping the police in their investigations.

Meanwhile, following threats by youths of the community in Nkanu West local government area of Enugu state to carty out reprisal attacks against the Fulani herdsmen that allegedly attacked their community, some notable persons including the lawmaker representing Nkanu East/Nkanu west federal constituency, Chukwuemeka Ujam and the chairman of Enugu state former Councillors’ Forum, Hon. Chidi Oko have sued for peace.

Oko said he would be leading members of the Councillors’ Forum to the community today (Sunday) to not only pay sympathy visit to the traditional ruler of fhe community, Igwe Greg Ugwu but to also commiserate with the community and the family that experienced the dastardly act.

On his part, Ujam who visited the community to pay his condolences and sympathies to the people over the act said the killing of Catholic seminarian and wounding of four others was painful and unprovoked.