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How Fulani Jihadists Aided By Nigerian Military Slaughtered 410 Southeastern Nigerians, Kidnapped Over 600 In 2022, Intersociety Group Alleges

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January 9, 2023

The group disclosed this in its annual report sent to SaharaReporters.

The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has accused Fulani herdsmen and other jihadists of killing no fewer than 410 open and captivity killings and 600 abductions in Southeast Nigeria in 2022.

The group disclosed this in its annual report sent to SaharaReporters.

The report was signed by its Board Chairman, Emeka Umeagbalasi; Head, Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, Obianuju Joy Igboeli Esq., and Head, Campaign and Publicity Department, Chidinma Udegbunam.

According to the group, the suspected herdsmen were aided by the military to kill and abduct residents of the region.

This comes a few days after the Indigenous People of Biafra raised the alarm over the alleged influx of terrorists masquerading as herdsmen into Enugu State, particularly the Nenwe community.

IPOB also alleged that the 82 Division of Nigerian Army Enugu is behind the recent influx of killer herdsmen into the state, urging the people of the state and Igbo people to be on alert.

In 2022, the then Commander of Rapid Response Squad, Abia State Police Command, CSP Johnbull revealed that Fulani herdsmen were responsible for kidnapping in Isuochi in Umenneochi Local Government Area of the state. He also accused the Nigerian Army of being complicit.

He said after collecting ransom, the assailants went to Garrik cattle market to spend the money.

“Yesterday night, I sent my men to the Garrik cattle market. They (referring to kidnappers) go there to spend money after kidnapping our people, they will collect ransom they will go and spend it there (cattle market) The army is not helping us,” he had said.

The infamous ‘Nimbo massacre’ in which about 20 persons were killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen at Ukpabi Nimbo, an agrarian community in the Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, in April 2016, was the first high profile attack linked to the cattle rearers in the South-East.

Since then, several indigenes of the zone have been killed in numerous attacks by suspected armed herdsmen.

The victims include women who were raped to death on their farms, and clergymen, particularly Catholic priests, who were kidnapped and killed.

In the report obtained by SaharaReporters, the group said investigations carried out by its personnel and several publications revealed that Enugu State was the worst hit with no fewer than 160 deaths out of the 260 open killings recorded.

The report read, “The Jihadist Fulani herdsmen and other jihadists militarily aided to invade and occupy forests, bushes, farmlands and strategic roads and their bypasses in the East since 2016, have been responsible for not less than 410 open and captivity killings and 600 abductions since the beginning of January 2022.

“From several investigations carried out by Intersociety and severally published, 260 of the slain Eastern Christians and non-Muslim others met their death in open unprovoked and unwarranted attacks by the jihadists using automatic rifles, machetes and other weapons of death while the remaining 150 deaths occurred in jihadist captivity involving those abducted and held captive, later killed and dumped to decompose at bush or forest paths.

“Enugu State is the worst hit with no fewer than 160 deaths out of the 260 open killings. The Eha-Amufu in Isiuzo LGA of the State is the worst-hit community with 90-100 deaths. As much as 70 defenseless lives have been lost in Eha-Amufu communities of Ebor, Umujiovu, Mgbuji and Agu-Amede in Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen attacks that occurred in less than one month on 21-23 Nov 2022, 8-10 Dec 2022 and 18th Dec 2022.

“The 2022 Jihadist herdsmen attacks in the area started on 6th January 2022; recording not less than seven attacks in all. In the Sunday, 18th Dec 2022 attack by Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen, not less than seven local Christians were killed and scores injured or missing.

 “According to SaharaReporters, 32 persons were killed in ten days of 8-18 Dec 2022 in Ebor Community alone. The SaharaReporters’ account continued thus “seven days ago after the 8th Dec attack, some soldiers visited the war-torn communities of Mgbuji, Umujiovu, Ebor and Agu-Amede and the newly brought leader of the drafted soldiers, Lt. JC Ibe from Imo State assured the locals of adequate security henceforth and pleaded with those that fled the communities to return home, unfortunately when those who fled had started returning home on account of assurances from the indigenous Army commander (Lt JC Ibe), he was surprisingly removed and moved to Uzo-Uwani and replaced by one Capt Idris MP. Regrettably, the Sunday’s (18th Dec 2022) attack took place barely 48 hrs after Capt Idris assumed duty in Eha-Amufu and also disappeared soldiers from the area till date”.

“Till date, not only that soldiers of the Nigerian military and personnel of the Nigeria Police and their commanders have done nothing to prevent and curb the attacks, they are also found to have concentrated in raiding innocent Igbo communities for “IPOB/ESN hunts” in addition to searching for locals or local vigilantes with Dane guns and other non-prohibited firearms use in hunting and self defense for purpose of disarming them and making their communities highly vulnerable for Jihadist Herdsmen invasion and attacks. The three cases in point are recent Army invasions recorded in Obeagu and Nkalaha Communities in Ishielu in Ebonyi State and Okigwe in Imo State.

“The invasions left several civilian homes and other defenseless properties razed or burned down beyond repair. In the area of Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen’s captivity killings in Eastern Nigeria, particularly the South-East, Abia State and its Umunneochi and Uturu areas accounted for not less than 90 of the 150 jihadist hideout killings. The Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen and other jihadists also accounted for not less than 600 abductions since January 2022, out of which 150 were killed in captivity.”

There have been incessant attacks by suspected herdsmen on communities in the South-East region with residents accusing the Nigerian security agencies of looking the other way.

On December 18, many people were feared killed when suspected herders invaded Abor, a farming community in Eha-Amufu, Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The armed persons, said to be over 100, attacked the community at about 8 a.m.

The attack came barely eight days after assailants attacked the community and killed no fewer than 25 people.

The attack forced residents of Mgbuji, Umujiovu and Ebor communities to flee their homes.

Subsequently, businesses were forced to shut down in Eha-Amufu.