The security agencies are not helping the matter as residents have accused the Nigerian Army of intimidating and killing people too.
Residents of Ebor, Umujiovu and Mgbuji communities in Eha-Amufu, Isi-Uzo local government area of Enugu State have called on Nigerians to come to their aid, lamenting that hunger is worsening their pitiable situations.
They made the appeal when the governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the state, Chijioke Edeoga, paid a visit to the affected communities.
SaharaReporters had reported that the death toll from the last Thursday's armed herdsmen attack had rising to 25 as of Monday with the recovery of two decomposing bodies in the bushes.
It had been reported that the third largest city in Enugu State which housed the Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu is now a shadow of itself with handful of people left as residents and visitors had fled the communities.
In the last two years, no fewer than 120 people have been confirmed killed by armed herdsmen and their collaborators from Igala Benue State with about 40 villages sacked and properties worth millions of naira destroyed.
The security agencies are not helping the matter as residents have accused the Nigerian Army of intimidating and killing people too.
Some of the people who spoke to SaharaReporters during the visit, said that some of the assailants of the December 8, attack wore military uniforms.
It was observed that outsiders living and doing businesses in Eha-Amufu town had started packing and relocating their families.
A trader in Eha-Amufu who was seen evacuating his property to his hometown, noted that what was happening Eha-Amufu had some political colouration. He said "I want to send some of my belongings and children to my home. Safety first before business."
At Mgbuji, some of the residents who spoke during the visit, said that their people had run away because they felt insecure.
One of the speakers Odo Ogenyi said, "Only those who cannot run and some youths are still remaining in the communities to guard it. The soldiers are hostile to us. Often they collaborate with our enemies. We want soldiers who hear our language and speak our language to Eha-Amufu."
Appealing for assistance, Ogenyi said, "Now hunger is ravaging the people who are remaining in the community because we can't go to farm again to harvest our crops. We need assistances. People are hungry and in despair. We need assurances that soldiers in Eha-Amufu are not here to kill our people because in the past they collaborated with our enemies to kill us."
But addressing the people in their various villages, LP Governorship candidate, Edeoga assured them that the soldiers were actually sent to protect them, appealing that they should cooperate with them to restore security in Eha-Amufu.
He encouraged them to start calling their people who had fled their homes to return back to their homes, adding "if you leave your homes the enemy will have much opportunity to occupy it."
"You have been sacked in various farm settlements and you ran to your hometowns. Now everyone is fleeing again, leaving their houses behind. If you leave your homes the enemy who sacked you in your farmlands and settlements will invade again and occupy it. So there's need that you call your people to return home. We are working with various security agencies to ensure that there is security for you but you must ensure you cooperate with security men on ground to restore" he appealed.