Chairman of Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State, Mr Obiora Obeagu, has disclosed that council has waded into the alleged harassment and intimidation of indigenes of Eha-Amufu community by “misguided individuals”, with a view to addressing it.
It has been alleged that some yet-to-be identified individuals are using local women groups to attack and forcefully detain indigenes of Eha-Amufu who spoke to newsmen recently against an unfounded protest video circulated on social media about alleged recent mayhem in the community by herdsmen.
Some community leaders and the Isi-Uzo council chairman had told journalists on a fact-finding mission in Eha-Amufu last Sunday that there were no mass killings and rape in the community by unknown gunmen as the video portrayed.
Obeagu told NAN on Thursday – yesterday, March 20 – in a telephone interview in Enugu that the council leadership had visited some of the victims and their family members that were threatened, attacked and detained within the community.
“Yes, I have been on the matter since morning and I have met some of the victims and their families.
“I ensured that they also made statements at the police station and to security agencies concerning the negative treatment and humiliation meted on them.
“We are following up on that. What is happening in Eha-Amufu is going beyond unfounded protest.
“I am trying to handle it carefully so that it doesn’t extend into further crisis in the community,” the chairman said.
Earlier, a community leader and activist, Mr. Richard Ogenyi, had alleged that after the 2023 governorship election, some hoodlums in Eha-Amufu has been threatening anybody they perceived as supporting the current administration in the state.
According to him, at the weekend, a team of journalists numbering about 30 from different media organisations came on a fact-finding mission in Eha-Amufu in respect of the menace herdsmen are causing in our community.
“As it stands today, anybody that granted them an interview to express the truth on ground, has been attacked and detained by uninformed women being used by their sponsors.
“This morning, March 20, 2025, they came after me and as I was not at home, they forcefully took my wife to Afor Mgbuji Market in Eha Amufu where she was humiliated,” the community leader said.
Ogenyi called on the state and local government authorities as well as security agencies to come to their rescue in the community.
