Palpable tension has gripped members of Abbi Community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, Enugu State, as two siblings were killed and 19 others missing following the invasion of Fulani herdsmen.
Several motorcycles and about seven houses were also razed by the herdsmen during the havoc which left several persons with varying degrees of injuries on Thursday, February 11, 2016.
It was gathered that the Fulani herdsmen numbering over 30 emerged from the bush and unleashed terror on the communit after which they escaoed through the bush unhurt.
The two deceased identified as Fidelis Okeja, 45, and his sister Mercy, 50 met their unexpected death around 6;30pm of the fateful day while they were sitting outside their compound and discussing.
Vanguard learnt that the sporadic shooting by the suspected Fulani herdsmen sent shivers into the inhabitants of other parts of the community who scampered for safety amid confusion.
A reliable source in the community said that the people were taken unawares by Fulani herdsmen, adding that the police and members of the local vigilante group were yet to respond to cries of the people before the invaders escaped into the bush.
The source said: ‘’The most worrisome aspect of the Fulani invasion of the community was that about 19 people are still missing as nobody can give account of them. Those missing were last seen on the fateful day.
“The community formed search parties in groups, combing bushes within and outside the community for days now, yet no sign of success has been recorded.
“We have lodged formal complaint at both Adani police station and Police Area Command Nsukka, but no arrests have been made over the matter. The Fulani herdsmen were armed to the teeth with dangerous weapons when they invaded us.
“Two people killed while 19 missing, several others brutalised with deep machete cuts now lying critical down at different hospitals.
“The corpses of the deceased Fidelis and Mercy have been deposited at Bishop Sanahan Hospital, Nsukka while the search for the missing 19 people continues.”
Confirming the incident, a senior officer at the Police Area Command, Nsukka who preferred anonymity said the attack was ‘pathetic and sorrowful as two biological relations were killed and several others wounded’ although he stated that the force had not received a report about the missing persons.
He, however, said that full scale investigations has commenced to unravel the circumstances surrounding the barbaric attack on the community.
A team of anti-riot policemen were later deployed to the community as part of security measures and to allay fears from members of the community.
