A violent attack by suspected Fulani herdsmen on Friday, leaving one young man of about 30 years old identified as Onuchukwu Ogbaki dead, has resulted in anger in the Onoli, Ugwuleshi Autonomous community in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State.

According to community sources, Friday’s attack was the latest in a series of attacks by herdsmen, which had already driven residents of Obuovia village out of their farmlands, creating fear and panic among residents, posing a serious threat to lives, livelihoods, and the very survival of the community.

A family member of the late Onuchukwu’s family, who gave his name as Sampson Okolie, told our correspondent on Sunday that their brother died around 2 a.m. on Saturday at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, where he was rushed to for medical assistance.

“It is true Fulani herdsmen killed our brother,” Okolie told PUNCH Metro.

He explained that Ogbaki went to check his farm along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Highway, close to the boundary between Enugu and Abia states leading to his attack.

“The Fulani herdsmen have sacked our people from their farms there, and only a few people were still going to farm in that area,” he said.

The community has been plagued by attacks from Fulani herdsmen, with Obuovia village already sacked from their farmlands. “The village close to that place, Obuovia village, Ugwuleshi Awgu autonomous community,has been completely sacked from their farm. Those farms have been occupied by Fulani herdsmen,” Okolie added.

The President General of Ugwuleshi Autonomous Community, Mr. Aaron Chidi Osu, confirmed the incident and said the matter had been officially reported to the Enugu State Police Command, noting that, “It is no longer news that Fulani herdsmen have been attacking my community.”

Osu called on the state government to intervene and put an end to the constant attacks by Fulani herdsmen, saying, “As it is now, my people are living in fear as they can’t go to their farmlands again. We are calling on the state government to put an end to the constant Fulani herdsmen in our community,” he appealed.

The community is demanding urgent action from the government to safeguard lives and property. The attack has created a sense of uncertainty and fear among residents, who are now afraid to go to their farms.

Meanwhile, efforts to speak with the Enugu State Police Command were unsuccessful as the command’s spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, did not answer his calls or respond to a text message seeking his comment. (PUNCH)