Following viral videos of protests and counter-protests regarding alleged killings and destruction in Eha-Amufu, community leaders spoke with journalists on a fact-finding mission. President-General of Mgbuji Eha-Amufu, Donatus Odoh, acknowledged past attacks by suspected herders, particularly in 2022 before Gov. Peter Mbah administration, which resulted in significant casualties and displacement. However, he debunked claims of recent mass killings.
“I saw a video claiming that 100 or 200 people were recently killed in Eha-Amufu, but nothing like that happened.I don’t know where people are getting this information from,” Odoh stated.
He could not provide any additional details, but he did confirm that one Igwurube Ndubuisi Donatus was killed in a February incident in another autonomous community.
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When asked about the rape victim's claims, Odoh stated, "She is alive." Recently, I saw her returning from the market on a bicycle. The government also intervened in her medical treatment.”
Chief Richard Ogenyi, another community leader, backed up the statement by claiming that the state and local governments' interventions had significantly improved security in Eha-Amufu since the 2022 attacks. “There have been isolated incidents, but the recent claims that mass killings and arson have occurred on social media are false.
Despite the women's protest's contribution to raising awareness, politics was unfortunately involved, Ogenyi stated. Mrs. Amarachi Nnaji, from Abor Eha-Amufu, recounted her ordeal, refuting reports that a stick was inserted into her or that she had died.
“They tore my clothes and dragged me into a cassava farm, but I fought back as much as I could,” she recounted.
Barr is the council's chairman. Obiora Obeagu acknowledged security challenges but refuted claims of recent killings. He mentioned that a number of security and infrastructure measures had been put into place since Governor Mbah's administration took office in 2023 to prevent the attacks of 2022 from happening again. These include:
Deployment of over 150 soldiers, Special Forces, Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs), and gun trucks.
Plans for a military barracks in the border community.
Construction of the 21.7km Agape-Agu Mgbuji-Ogbete asphalt road to improve security and access to farmlands.
Obeagu blamed misinformation and political motives for the protests, stating that some protesters exaggerated figures without providing evidence.
“This was not a spontaneous protest. It was orchestrated. Someone was exaggerating the situation in one video by claiming that 200 people were killed last week and 100 this week, despite the lack of evidence. The images they used were from incidents that happened years ago,” he said.
He added, "If these killings happened, let anyone take you to the locations," urging the public to verify the facts. No one will show you any, I guarantee it.