Tension in Enugu communities as soldiers allegedly provide security for new Fulani settlements

Tension in Leke Uno and Ugwogo communities of Isi Uzo Local Government Area and neighbouring Agu Ekwegbe in Nsukka local government area all in Enugu State following the activities of Fulani herdsmen who are building new settlements in the area.

Standard Observers reports that hundreds of herders began clustering in the area a few days after herdsmen killed over 30 persons in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

Ishielu Local government shares boundaries with Isi Uzo local government.

A resident of Leke told the newspaper that the herders have clustered in the community and Ugwogo after moving out en masse from Ishielu following the massacre of the indigenes of the area.

The resident who spoke on the conditions of anonymity said that soldiers are also supervising the setting up of the settlements.

He said: “They have thousands of cows in our community and Ekwegbe close to where Peace Mass Transit is building a University.

” The herdsmen are setting up settlements as we speak and are being protected by Nigerian soldiers so we cannot do anything” he said.

Another source said the herders also made attempts to move to a neighbouring Mbu in Isi Uzo and Agu Opi in Nsukka but were resisted by indigenes of the area who chased them away.

The source added that they might try again since it was learnt that soldiers are now providing security for them.

Another resident of Leke said that they had informed the local government council of the large presence of the herders in their community, adding that the council has not done anything about it after sending a team to access the new settlements.

Recall that a clash between farmers and herders in Anike, Adani in Uzo Uwani local government area led to the killing of 6 by youths of the area and operatives of the Eastern Security Network, ESN.

Federal government later deployed soldiers to area.