A peaceful protest by thousands of women in Eha-Amufu, Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State, ended in chaos and violence after a combined team of soldiers, police, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) was deployed to disperse the protesters. The women had gathered to protest against the ongoing killings and other brutal attacks allegedly carried out by Fulani herdsmen in the area, but the situation quickly escalated when the security forces intervened.
The protest, which began as a peaceful demonstration against the increasing insecurity in the region, turned violent when the women accused the government of failing to protect them from the herdsmen’s attacks. The women, who have been subjected to constant violence and killings by suspected herdsmen, were particularly angry over what they saw as the government’s negligence and complicity in the ongoing atrocities.
According to sources, the trouble started when the women apprehended two men they accused of masterminding the herdsmen attacks in Eha-Amufu. While one of the suspects managed to escape, the other was caught and paraded through the communities by the women. It was after this that the Enugu State government, led by Governor Peter Mbah, allegedly ordered the deployment of soldiers, anti-riot police, and NSCDC personnel to intervene and stop the protest.
Mrs. Regina Odoh, one of the key leaders of the protest, recounted the frightening moments that unfolded. “When we reached Eke, the central market, hundreds of soldiers and policemen blocked our path,” she explained. “We pleaded with them to let us pass because they have failed to protect us. But they refused. We then returned to Eha-Ohala and hid the suspect in the Umujove community while we regrouped. When we came back to the town, the soldiers and police chased us, blocking all the roads we could use to leave.”
As the women tried to make their way through the town, the situation took a dangerous turn. Frustrated by the lack of protection from the security agencies during past attacks, the women began to accuse the soldiers and police of being complicit in the violence perpetrated by the herdsmen. “We told them that they were helping the herdsmen and trying to silence us from speaking out,” Mrs. Odoh said. “The soldiers and police then began shooting at us with live ammunition and tear gas.”
What followed was a violent clash. The women, who were protesting peacefully, responded by throwing stones and sticks at the security agents in an attempt to defend themselves. However, the response from the security forces was brutal, as they reportedly shot and injured several women. According to Mrs. Odoh, at least four women were killed, and many others were wounded during the confrontation. “The soldiers and police shot at us without warning. They wounded many of us, and the injured have been taken to the hospital,” she said.
The violence has drawn sharp criticism from various quarters, with many Nigerians questioning the use of force against unarmed women who were merely protesting against the killings and destruction in their communities. Critics argue that the security agencies should have done more to protect the women and prevent the violence, rather than escalating the situation.
In the aftermath of the protest, several videos and voice recordings were shared with SaharaReporters, showing the women accusing local government officials of being complicit in the herdsmen’s attacks. In one of the videos, a woman spokesperson claimed that Israel Mgborogwu, a media aide to the Isi-Uzo Local Government Area chairman, Obiora Obeagu, was involved in the violence and working with the herdsmen. She alleged that Mgborogwu and other government officials were lying about the scale of the attacks and dismissing the suffering of the community.
“They (government officials) claimed that a woman who died after being raped by the herdsmen didn’t die,” the spokesperson said in the video. “They brought another woman who had been raped before to say that no woman died. They also lied about the number of people killed, claiming that only one person had been killed since November last year. That’s a big lie.”
The protesting women also highlighted the continued violence they had endured over the past few years. “In the past two weeks alone, no fewer than four women have been raped by the herdsmen,” one of the women said. “They attacked Amofia Umuhu Eha-Amufu village, killed Ndubuisi, a final-year graduate, and shot his uncle. They burned down two houses and looted others. Yet, the government officials and some people from our community went to the media, branding our protest as sponsored.”
The women’s anger was also directed at the Isi-Uzo Local Government chairman, Obiora Obeagu, who they accused of being a saboteur. “Obiora Obeagu and others profit from the blood of the Eha-Amufu people who have been killed by the herdsmen,” the spokesperson continued. “They are part of the problem, and they don’t want us to speak out.”
The situation in Eha-Amufu has highlighted the growing frustration among communities in Enugu State and other parts of Nigeria, where farmers and villagers have been under constant attack by herdsmen. Despite repeated calls for stronger action from the government, many feel that their cries for help are falling on deaf ears.
The clashes in Eha-Amufu are just the latest in a long line of violent incidents linked to the ongoing conflict between farmers and herdsmen in Nigeria. The conflict, which has been escalating in recent years, has resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives and the displacement of many others. The government’s response has often been criticized as insufficient, and local communities have resorted to protests in a bid to draw attention to their plight.
The Enugu protest has also raised important questions about the role of security agencies in maintaining peace and protecting citizens. While security forces are tasked with maintaining law and order, their actions during the protest have raised concerns about whether they are effectively serving the people or acting in the interests of the government and powerful elites.
As the situation continues to unfold, many Nigerians are calling for a thorough investigation into the violence in Eha-Amufu and for accountability from both the security agencies and government officials. The women who were protesting have vowed to continue their fight for justice, demanding better protection from the government and an end to the ongoing attacks by herdsmen.
“We will not stop speaking out until we get justice,” said one of the protesters. “If the government and security agencies cannot protect us, they should not try to silence us.”
