Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen have attacked the residence of Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG Frank Mbah, in Ezimo Community, Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The attack, which occurred on Thursday evening around 7 pm, resulted in the death of a police officer who was guarding the house, SaharaReporters learned.
According to community sources who spoke to SaharaReporters, the assailants, who were fully armed, tried to gain access to the house but were resisted by the security guard.
A community source said, “When the security guard raised an alarm, the assailants killed him, collected his rifle, and disappeared into the bush. We suspect that it was the same assailants who killed a Catholic priest, Rev Fr Mathew Eya, on Friday evening in Eha-Ndiagu, a neighbouring community in Nsukka Local Government Area.
“It is not clear whether the gunmen wanted to abduct the mother of the DIG Mbah, but what I can tell you is that these kidnappers have been operating close to Mbah’s house.
“They have successfully kidnapped people on two occasions, very close to the house, less than 500 metres from it. There have been constant kidnapping activities around that area, and the perpetrators are believed to be Fulani.
“But they had not killed anyone until this recent incident; maybe it is because they were challenged. Our people see those guys regularly; the people mining sand and gravel see them regularly, but you know we have a weak security system.
“They just killed the security guard and collected his rifle. Actually, it is not only one security guard who secures his house; I believe the other officers were absent during the attack. The security operatives in the house did not anticipate anything.
“They collected the gun, and a Reverend Father was killed the next day along Eha-Ndiagu Road in the neighbouring community. We believe that it is the same network of kidnappers that was operating within that axis. So, there are very serious security threats around those areas. There are marauders around those areas.”
“You know, the police, in their way, after the attack, they saw someone who had gotten himself drunk passing, and they arrested him, saying that he might be among the assailants. But we know the man, he is not one of the attackers, but they (policemen) must show that they are working,” another source said.
“Nobody from Ezimo community will nurse evil against Frank Mbah. He is our pride.”
Meanwhile, tensions are still running high in the Ezimo community and other neighbouring communities following the attacks.
Efforts to speak with the Enugu State Police Command were unsuccessful as the Command’s spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, did not take his calls or respond to a text message seeking his reaction.
