Tragedy struck once again in the Aguamede community of Eha-Amufu, Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, Enugu State, as suspected Fulani herdsmen launched a brutal attack on Sunday evening, killing more than 10 residents.
Eyewitnesses from the community said the assailants may have been air-dropped by a helicopter that was seen hovering over the area earlier in the day. The attack reportedly began around 4:30 p.m., during church service hours, catching many residents off guard.
“They didn’t fire a single shot to announce their arrival,” a local source told Vanguard. “They just stormed the community and began slaughtering people with machetes. It was horrifying. Over 10 people were butchered in their homes before anyone could even raise an alarm.”
By Monday morning, no fewer than 10 lifeless bodies were recovered, all bearing deep machete wounds to the head and other parts of the body. Several residents are still unaccounted for, raising fears that the death toll could climb.
Efforts to reach the Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, for a comment were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls or messages. Similarly, the Chairman of Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, Mr. Obiora Obeagu, could not be reached for comment.
This latest incident comes barely a week after another deadly attack in Mbuji, also in Eha-Amufu, where four people were reportedly killed by suspected herdsmen. Although security operatives were deployed to the area following the previous attack, locals say the presence of law enforcement has not deterred further violence.
Eha-Amufu and neighboring Ikem communities have endured relentless attacks from suspected Fulani herdsmen for over eight years. The violent conflict, which dates back to 2017, has claimed at least 123 lives between 2017 and 2022, according to local reports. Among the most deadly incidents was an attack on December 8, 2022, in which 23 people were killed in a single village.
On November 22, 2024, three farmers were murdered in another assault, and as recently as June 9, 2025, Fulani herdsmen allegedly resumed hostilities, killing four and leaving one resident missing.
The people of Isi-Uzo, especially those in communities bordering Benue State, continue to live in fear as the attacks persist with little sign of resolution or effective government intervention.
