No fewer than four farmers were murdered on their farms in Adani community in the Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
It was gathered on Thursday that the victims were slaughtered in their farms on Tuesday afternoon, when the assailants invaded their farms.
Meanwhile, Adani-Ogurugu road in the same local government has been under siege by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers. Several travellers and local residents had been reportedly kidnapped in the last three weeks.
A resident of Adani community, Chijindu Omeje, who confirmed the incident explained that his cousin’s in-law named Emenike who was in his early 40s was among the four people killed by Fulani herdsmen. Another victim was a tree feller.
“Yes, four persons including women farmers were killed on Tuesday at Adani farm,” Omeje said. “One of the persons killed is my cousin’s in-law and his named is Emenike. I don’t know his actual age but he is not less than 40 years. The assailants who were all Fulani herdsmen also killed a tree feller.
“This incident happened in Adani farm. Meanwhile, the road from Adani to Ogurugu is a no-go area now as kidnappers believed to be same Fulani herdsmen have taken over the road. Several people have been kidnapped along the road in recent weeks.
“The chairman of the local government is helpless. We need help. We need government intervention to ensure that local farmers can return to their farms. It is no longer a funny situation, something must be done and done urgently.”
Meanwhile, the Council Chairman, Chijioke Ezeugwu assured local farmers of protection, adding that he directed security operatives to safeguard farmlands to enable farmers to return to their farms.
In a report shared on Facebook by one Sen Chijinkem Ugwuanyi, a resident of the local government, he quoted Ezeugwu to have spoken on April 08, 2025, during a security awareness visit to communities in Uzo-uwani Local Government Area with the Chief Security Officer of Enugu Government House.
Addressing the gathering in the various communities, the Chairman noted that he had directed security operatives to take charge of all the surrounding bushes and farms so that farmers could safely cultivate in their lands and also said they’ll ruthlessly deal with some of the miscreants harbouring around its environs.
“Farming is very important to all of us, food security is the worst form of insecurity. Therefore, we will not allow food insecurity to surface in this part where we have started to witness a substantial return of peace and stability,” he quoted the Council Chairman to have said.
Ezeugwu reassured the farmers of the government’s commitment to improving security around farmlands by using local security operatives to protect farmers from the unwarranted attacks.
He called on all citizens to be resilient and conscious of the happenings around them and to report any suspicious activity or movement to security operatives.
He implored and equally urged all Communities to fully support and cooperate with members of the Nigerian Police, Military, the neighbourhood watch and other security agencies.
The Chairman noted that security operatives had started bush combing and government had taken a decisive step in bringing the menace to a stop.
When the State Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, was contacted, he denied the attack.
In text message sent to some journalists, Ndukwe said, “There is no report of such an incident please.”
