IPOB leader, son among 48 killed in attack on Enugu community

48 hours after rampaging Fulani herdsmen invaded an agrarian community, Ukpabi Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, Enugu State, reports have emerged of killings of a known IPOB leader and son, Mr. Christopher Onoh and David Onoh, whose lifeless bodies were recovered from their farmland.

It was gathered that the IPOB leader and his two sons, David and Daniel Chukwuebuka Onoh who until the attacks, were known to be members of the Biafra Separatist group, IPOB, were said to have been under threats by herders prior to the headers’ invasion.

Since recovering the corpses of Christopher and David, the whereabouts of young Daniel Chukwuebuka Onoh, who is twin brother of the deceased David, is yet to be ascertained as at the time of filling this report.

Meanwhile, unverifiable facts indicate that Daniel’s family, who are indigenes of Ngwo, in Udi LGA of Enugu State were resident farmers of Ukpabi Nimbo as at the time of the attacks.

Following the ugly incident, Daniel had run to an undisclosed destination for his safety, following the bizarre killings of his father and twin brother.

It will be recalled that over 60 houses and shops were set ablaze by the invading herdsmen and about 56 injured residents are receiving treatment at Bishop Shanahan hospitals in Nsukka LGA.

The attack came two days after a security report hinted of an impending attack by Fulani herdsmen in the area.

The report had said the community would be invaded by about 500 Fulani herdsmen from Nasarawa State.

A team of soldiers and mobile police drafted to the area after the report of the invasion filtered into the state was overpowered by the herdsmen.

The invaders, who came into Ukpabi-Nimbo in the wee hours of yesterday, were said to have used grenades, AK 47 and other dangerous weapons.

According to the residents, the herdsmen “were indiscriminately shooting and cutting our kinsmen with machetes,” said Grace Onoh who survived the attack.

As at yesterday evening, some residents said those killed have exceeded the initial 48 brought to the Bishop Shanahan Hospital, Nsukka, by policemen.

Transitional Committee Chairman of Uzo-Uwani Local Government, Cornell Onwubuya said despite efforts to stop the attack, the herdsmen still went ahead to unleash mayhem on the community.

Enugu Police, in a statement, said it had commenced “a full scale investigation into the alleged killing of six persons at Nimbo in Uzo Uwani Local Government by suspected herdsmen”.

The police said following a report, the Commissioner of Police, Nwaodibo Ekechukwu, mobilised and left with operatives to ensure that the incident did not degenerate into an uncontrollable situation and to work out strategies aimed at fishing out those behind it and to bring them to book.

Ekechukwu who visited the area, urged the people of Nimbo to continue to be law-abiding and never to take laws into their hands.

But a worker at Bishop Shanahan Hospital, Nsukka, confirmed receiving 30 bodies and 22 injured persons in the morning.

Hundreds of displaced residents are reported to be taking refuge in Nsukka.

(New Telegraph)