The Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State has been thrown into mourning following the gruesome murder of a 90-year-old man, Elder Otiakugwu, and his wife by yet-to-be-identified assailants.
Eyewitnesses told journalists that the elderly couple was hacked to death with machetes in the early hours of Wednesday in their home in Ekwuru Village, Nimbo.
The attackers, who reportedly struck while the couple was having a meal, left their blood-soaked machete at the scene and fled under the cover of darkness.
A resident of the community recounted that “the assailants entered the village unnoticed and killed the couple while they were eating. Their bodies were discovered the next morning lying in a pool of blood.”
According to sources, the victims’ grandchild had visited earlier but had already returned to school before the incident occurred, unaware of the tragedy that was about to unfold.
The brutal killings have reignited fear and trauma in the Nimbo community, which has experienced a series of violent attacks in recent years, including the notorious 2016 massacre where about 12 residents were killed by suspected herdsmen.
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Since then, the area has suffered repeated incidents of killings, rape, and the destruction of farmlands.
Community leader and President General of Nimbo, David Utazi, confirmed the attack and expressed grave concern over the deteriorating security situation in the area.
He called on both the federal and state governments to establish a police quick-response intervention camp to address the recurring violence.
“We have never experienced lasting peace here. Fulani herdsmen come at intervals, destroy farms, rape women, and maim residents. We are appealing once again for the intervention camp approved in 2016 by former Inspector-General of Police Solomon Arase,” Utazi stated.
He explained that the herders often move through Odoru in Nsukka Local Government Area to Nimbo and that the vast stretch of land between Ida, Odoru, and Nimbo could accommodate the necessary federal security infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, Chijioke Ezugwu, disclosed that a suspect connected to the murder has been arrested and handed over to the police for investigation.
“We are fully on top of the situation and will not relent in our efforts to ensure the safety of our residents and visitors,” Ezugwu assured.
However, as of the time of filing this report, efforts to contact the Enugu State Police Command for official comment were unsuccessful, as the spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, could not be reached on the phone.
