At least four farmers were reportedly murdered on their farms in Adani community in the Uzo-Uwani local government area of Enugu, south-east Nigeria, by Fulani herdsmen.
The victims were reportedly slaughtered in their farms on Tuesday afternoon, when the assailants invaded their farms.
A resident of Adani community, Chijindu Omeje, who confirmed the incident told a news outlet that his cousin’s in-law named Emenike who was in his early 40s was among the four people killed by Fulani herdsmen, adding that 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,” he told New York-based Sahara Reporters.
Meanwhile, the Council Chairman, Barr 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 (CSO) 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 official 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, SP Daniel Ndukwe, was contacted, he dismissed the report.
In text message sent to some journalists, Ndukwe said: “There is no report of such an incident please.”
‘KILLER HERDSMEN’
The conflict between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in Nigeria has been a longstanding issue, resulting in violence and loss of lives.
The Fulani people are believed to be the largest semi-nomadic group globally, found across West and Central Africa. In Nigeria, some continue to live as semi-nomadic herders, while others have moved to cities. Unlike city dwellers, the nomadic groups spend most of their lives in the bush and are often involved in clashes with farming communities, and also engage in kidnapping for ransom. They herd their animals across vast areas, frequently clashing with local farmers.
The herders now bear sophisticated weapons and use them to terrorize many parts of the country, with security operatives ignoring many of the attacks for allegedly not getting orders to go after the armed criminals.
Several brutal attacks happened under former President Muhammadu Buhari, who was born to a Fulani family on 17 December 1942, in Daura, a town in Katsina State, northwest Nigeria.
The continuous unprovoked attacks triggered resistance in South-East region, inhabited by Igbo people and South-West region, inhabited by the Yoruba people.
A Yoruba activist and philanthropist, Chief Dr. Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho, demanded end to the attacks that have cost lives of thousands. He asked the Fulani people to vacate all the forests in South-West Nigeria.
As the Akoni Oodua of Yorubaland, he is known for fighting for the rights of the Yoruba people. He is currently advocating for a sovereign Yoruba country.
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