Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), yesterday, alleged that the sudden upsurge in bloody attacks of communities in Enugu, South East of Nigeria is a declaration of war in Igboland.
The rights group said the symbolism of attacking Enugu, political and regional headquarters of Igboland in staccato format is a strategic message by armed terrorists to Ndigbo, signalling the beginning of a full blown war, which must be confronted by all South Eastern Religious, traditional and political leaders.
HURIWA in a statement by its national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, condemned the refusal of the heads of all security formations in Enugu to arrest the perpetrators of these incessant and well coordinated violent war directed at the people of Ebor, Eha-Amufu community in Isi-Uzo Local Council of Enugu State.
HURUWA quoting security sources stated that the invaders who outnumbered the soldiers and local vigilantes, launched the vicious attack early Sunday morning, adding that several people were killed.
“As I speak to you, we are combing bushes in search of the bodies of those killed. I can’t tell now the exact number of people killed. “From the report I received, the armed herdsmen and their collaborators from Benue State communities launched the attack around 5:30a.m. to 6:00a.m. this Sunday morning.
Before we got there, several people had been killed.“We are just a few soldiers here and where we are based is a little bit far from the community.”
There are no other security operatives from other security agencies here in Eha-Amufu helping, except the local vigilantes. They (vigilantes) first engaged them but the invading armed herdsmen outnumbered them,” a security source said.
Also, the Rights group, quoting the media stated that a community leader, who gave his name as Ogbuabor Samuel, confirmed the attack thus: “As I speak to you, the invading armed herdsmen are still shooting. Several people have been killed, at least we have recovered the bodies of 10 people.”
HURIWA said: “ We are appealing to World leaders and Igbos in diaspora to use their extensive contacts to expose the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for standing by and do nothing whilst terrorists sharing same ethnicity with him and wreaking havoc and unleashing massive deaths of Innocent Igbo people in their ancestral homes.
“HURIWA alternatively is demanding that every adult without blemish or without any criminal case should be allowed to bear AK-47 to wade off these terrorists and their daredevil agenda since government at the centre that controls the military and police seems to have compromised the security and wellbeing of Igbo people.”
