After the cold-blooded massacre of over 50 persons including men, women and children by rampaging Fulani herdsmen Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani L.G.A, Enugu State, an NYSC member who survived the attack, has narrated his near-death experience.
It was widely reported that over 50 persons including men, women and children were cold-bloodedly massacred by rampaging Fulani herdsmen at Ukpabi/Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani L.G.A, Enugu State, recently.
Among the victims of the mayhem was a 25-year-old NYSC corps member Patrick Eze, whose neck was hanging on his head by the grace of a thin layer of flesh and ligaments after the attack. He was rushed to the intensive unit of the Federal Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu where doctors battled daily and succeeded in bringing him back to life.
Below are excerpts from an interview with Vanguard;
How it happened It was around 5.30AM, when we heard the village bell ringing, signalling danger. We heard voices from members of the village vigilante group warning that Fulani herdsmen were around. I was lying down when I heard the bell. I quickly stood up, wore my shoes and started running. Before the bell rang, we were hearing gun shots. It was after the bell that the gun shots increased. I ran from Onueke where I live with my parents through Akaha-Unasi, a neighbouring community.
The gun shots persisted. More villagers joined me in looking for safety. Midway, we heard that the Fulani’s were coming from Unasi and have taken over the village. I then decided to take another path where I started hearing the gunshots, too close to me. The bullets were piercing through the bushes and air. It was too much. I had to dodge by the bush to observe what was going on and detect where the gunshots were coming from in order to know which way to run. While I was trying to do that, I then saw the herdsmen. They were over fifty surging towards me.
The first person was wearing red. They were armed with AK47 rifles. They equally had machetes by their side. The first person attacked me with his machete. The guy on red. I ran away but they flung the machete and it cut my ankle. I fell down. They swooped on me, inflicting over 19 machete cuts and I became unconscious. They thought they had killed me. After some hours, I woke up. A man saw me. He came and asked me what happened but I could not talk. He quickly called the Vigilante Group and they took me from that farm to Bishop Shanahan Hospital,Nsukka from where I was later rushed to this hospital in Enugu.
Before the Invasion The herdsmen wrote two weeks to the attack, informing us that they would invade our community.. On coming back that April 21, my kinsmen told me of the impending danger. I asked them how would an attack be possible when the Fulani do not know the nooks and crannies of our village. They have been grazing in the other parts of Nimbo but I am sure they have not grazed in our villages. Where we ran to for safety, they have not grazed there since they came to Nimbo. It was one of our kinnsmen, Ben and the police Corporal that led them to our safe haven. That black Monday, we were alert till 5am until the policemen who were around said we should go and sleep. Then we went to bed. Barely 30mintues after, this incident happened. It was obvious that Ben and the Corporal led the onslaught.
My Future Bright I thank God for everything. The bible says, "Whatever situation you find yourself, give thanks and glory to God. "God delivered me and he will take care of my future.
Mother Speaks Distraught but equally joyous mother of the survivor, 51-year-old Madam Eze, a farmer spoke about the incident. "My son had stayed one year for NYSC in Jigawa State and so as a mother, I was longing to see him having finished the programme. His elder brother told him not to come but to start looking for job immediately. I insisted that he should come, at least , for me to see him.
Moreover, I had eye surgery for an impairment and I really wanted to see my son before he moved to the larger world. It was upon his visit after the NYSC service that this incident happened. I barely had time to stay with him because other corpers in the village were coming to see him before this incident happened on April 25. Now that some arrests have been made, government should ensure that they are prosecuted to bring some sought of relief to the families of bereaved ones. What ever happens, Nimbo community will never be the same again following this attack."
I have been reporting on latest news from Nigeria for almost 10 years now. I report on every possible news area I come across, but always ensure my reports are compiled with dignity and fact to uphold my personal values and duty as a journalist
Posted: at 30-05-2016 09:56 PM (8 years ago) | Addicted Hero
But I don't get it, how can those fulani.herdsmen attack a whole community without resistant from the vigilante group or police, having wrote u guys that they will be attacking your community 2weeks before hand.
Posted: at 30-05-2016 10:08 PM (8 years ago) | Hero
But I don't get it, how can those fulani.herdsmen attack a whole community without resistant from the vigilante group or police, having wrote u guys that they will be attacking your community 2weeks before hand.
as you see am , na so i see am too... no resistant what so ever
Posted: at 30-05-2016 10:12 PM (8 years ago) | Grande Master
Pauldedon at 30-05-2016 11:25 PM (8 years ago) (m)
May be you guys do not get the story but I got it, let me ask you, in a small town like that would the vigilante group be up to 5persons with double barrel guns? to wage a war against 50 well armed invaders with AK47 rifles? may be you are not touched by the recent war being waged by the Fulani Muslims in furthering the course of Usmandan Fodio agaisnt the whole Nigeria through Jihad, it's now obvious why all northern Nigeria including the middle belt are speaking Housa for the fear of being murdered. Maybe Boko Haram is now too open and being tackled, and they quickly adopt this coordination with Fulani Herdsmen. They slaughtered innocent Christian in Plateau state, Benue state and so many parts of the Middle Belt and take parts of there land with the help of some security agents and lawlessness. Is there any nation in the world that should be moving backward to the primitive age where animals and humans co-exist in the same farm land? They should go to their home village and breed grasses for their cattle in a farm settlement, they should ask for financial support from their state government, why should I kill anybody to do my own business? or force anybody out his or her home for my own business? Please say NO TO GRAZING RESERVE BILL, now that there is no bill, they are killing, when there become bill, then Police and other security agents with come out open to help them kill.
Posted: at 30-05-2016 11:25 PM (8 years ago) | Newbie
But I don't get it, how can those fulani.herdsmen attack a whole community without resistant from the vigilante group or police, having wrote u guys that they will be attacking your community 2weeks before hand.
Really funny
Posted: at 31-05-2016 11:43 AM (8 years ago) | Upcoming
ANYWAYS I NO GET ANYTHING TO SAY BUT MAKE BUHARI REMEMBER SAY PERSON NO WELL ANOTHER PERSON WEY WELL COME DEY TAKE TABLET FOR PERSON WEY NO WELL NA WHO NO COME WELL يراقب الله !!!
Posted: at 31-05-2016 04:18 PM (8 years ago) | Gistmaniac