In a disturbing turn of events, a peaceful demonstration by women in Eha-Amufu, Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State, was met with excessive force by a coalition of Nigerian security agencies. The protesters, who were decrying incessant attacks by armed herdsmen in their communities, encountered a brutal response from soldiers, police officers, and personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Eyewitnesses claim that the security forces were dispatched by the Enugu State government, allegedly to stifle reports of escalating insecurity in the region. The situation took a violent turn when the protesters detained two individuals accused of orchestrating herdsmen attacks. Their actions prompted a swift and aggressive intervention by security personnel.
According to Mrs. Regina Odoh, one of the key figures in the protest, law enforcement officers barricaded the major access roads leading into the town, preventing the demonstrators from proceeding. “The same security agencies that failed to protect us during previous attacks are now using force to silence our grievances,” she said. Outraged by this, women from five neighboring communities mobilized to join the protest, only to be met with tear gas and live ammunition.
As panic spread, the protesters resorted to hurling stones and sticks in self-defense. Several reports indicate that four women suffered gunshot wounds, while many others sustained injuries and required urgent medical attention.
According to SaharaReporters, Footage and voice recordings obtained depict scenes of chaos and outrage, with the demonstrators accusing local government officials of complicity in the persistent violence. Council Chairman Obiora Obeagu was singled out as one of those allegedly benefiting from the insecurity plaguing the area. Additionally, a woman in one of the videos identified Mr. Israel Mgborogwu, a media aide to the Isi-Uzo LGA Chairman, as an individual working in collaboration with the herdsmen.
“They are spreading false narratives, claiming that a woman who was raped and brutalized by herdsmen did not die. They even staged another victim to mislead the public, insisting that only one fatality has been recorded in Eha-Amufu since last November. This is nothing but deception,” one protester remarked.
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Community members assert that within the past fortnight alone, no fewer than four women have been assaulted on their farms by suspected herdsmen. Furthermore, an attack in Amofia Umuhu Eha-Amufu led to the tragic killing of a final-year student, identified as Ndubuisi, in his family home. His uncle was also shot during the raid, while the assailants torched two houses and looted four others before escaping.
With the government and security forces failing to safeguard the people, the women remain resolute in their demand for justice and protection. As calls grow for an independent probe into the excessive use of force against the demonstrators, concerned citizens and human rights organizations continue to press for immediate action to address the ongoing security crisis in Eha-Amufu.
