The specter of violence returned to the Southeast over the weekend, as armed herdsmen unleashed a brutal assault on a community in Abia State, leaving a trail of death and fear in their wake.
The Abia State Government has officially confirmed the attack in Umunneochi Local Government Area, with several residents feared dead. Though exact casualty figures remain undisclosed, the Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, acknowledged the tragedy during a press briefing at the Government House in Umuahia on Monday.
“There have been some security breaches in the Umunneochi area of the state, leading to some fatalities,” Kanu stated somberly. “We have placed all security agencies on full alert. The government will not rest until those responsible are brought to justice.”
The attack has reignited fears of a growing security vacuum in the region, especially as it mirrors a similar wave of violence recently experienced in neighbouring Enugu State.
In a chillingly coordinated attack on the Agu-Amed Autonomous Community in Eha-Amufu, Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State, at least seven people were killed, and two others remain missing. The assault occurred around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, sending shockwaves through the already traumatized community.
Eyewitnesses described a scene out of a horror film: assailants, allegedly Fulani herdsmen, descended on the village — reportedly dropped from hovering helicopters — and commenced a silent but savage slaughter using machetes before switching to gunfire as panic spread.
“Armed Fulani herdsmen invaded our community and killed seven people in cold blood. Their bodies were recovered in a savage condition. Two more are still missing,” said Osita Ogenyi, a shaken resident of Agu-Amed. “They struck unexpectedly. No gunshots at first. They just hacked people down. When the alarm spread, they started shooting and then vanished.”
The community is still reeling from the brutality, and residents are demanding answers.
This is not an isolated incident. In just over three years, at least 163 residents of Eha-Amufu have been killed in similar herdsmen attacks, with the recent deaths adding to an already grim tally. In March 2025, women from seven autonomous communities in Eha-Amufu staged a protest over the unrelenting bloodshed, calling on the government to act. Their cries appear to have gone unheard.
Meanwhile, back in Abia, the government’s response has faced mounting criticism. Locals accuse the state authorities of being reactive rather than proactive in dealing with the escalating security threats, particularly in rural communities vulnerable to invasion.
With rising tensions between farmers and nomadic herders, the crisis has taken a devastating toll on local economies. Farmers in both Abia and Enugu allege that herders not only destroy crops and farmlands but also commit acts of intimidation and violence with impunity.
Analysts warn that the failure to decisively address the farmer-herder crisis risks further descent into chaos in the region. The growing body count and the boldness of the attacks signal a security emergency that can no longer be ignored.
For now, the people of Umunneochi and Eha-Amufu mourn their dead — and wait anxiously for a day when their communities will no longer live under the shadow of terror.
PIONEER NEWS 