Report shows that jihadists in Nigerian military Uniform slaughtered 410 Igbo, kidnapped over 600 In 2022

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“How Fulani Jihadists Aided By Nigerian Military Slaughtered 410 Southeastern Nigerians, Kidnapped Over 600 In 2022, Intersociety Group Alleges,” Sahara Reporters, January 9, 2023:

The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has accused Fulani herdsmen and other jihadists of killing no fewer than 410 open and captivity killings and 600 abductions in Southeast Nigeria in 2022.

The group disclosed this in its annual report sent to SaharaReporters.

The report was signed by its Board Chairman, Emeka Umeagbalasi; Head, Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, Obianuju Joy Igboeli Esq., and Head, Campaign and Publicity Department, Chidinma Udegbunam.

According to the group, the suspected herdsmen were aided by the military to kill and abduct residents of the region.

This comes a few days after the Indigenous People of Biafra raised the alarm over the alleged influx of terrorists masquerading as herdsmen into Enugu State, particularly the Nenwe community.

IPOB also alleged that the 82 Division of Nigerian Army Enugu is behind the recent influx of killer herdsmen into the state, urging the people of the state and Igbo people to be on alert.

In 2022, the then Commander of Rapid Response Squad, Abia State Police Command, CSP Johnbull revealed that Fulani herdsmen were responsible for kidnapping in Isuochi in Umenneochi Local Government Area of the state. He also accused the Nigerian Army of being complicit.

He said after collecting ransom, the assailants went to Garrik cattle market to spend the money.

“Yesterday night, I sent my men to the Garrik cattle market. They (referring to kidnappers) go there to spend money after kidnapping our people, they will collect ransom they will go and spend it there (cattle market) The army is not helping us,” he had said.

The infamous ‘Nimbo massacre’ in which about 20 persons were killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen at Ukpabi Nimbo, an agrarian community in the Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, in April 2016, was the first high profile attack linked to the cattle rearers in the South-East.

Since then, several indigenes of the zone have been killed in numerous attacks by suspected armed herdsmen.

The victims include women who were raped to death on their farms, and clergymen, particularly Catholic priests, who were kidnapped and killed.

In the report obtained by SaharaReporters, the group said investigations carried out by its personnel and several publications revealed that Enugu State was the worst hit with no fewer than 160 deaths out of the 260 open killings recorded.

The report read, “The Jihadist Fulani herdsmen and other jihadists militarily aided to invade and occupy forests, bushes, farmlands and strategic roads and their bypasses in the East since 2016, have been responsible for not less than 410 open and captivity killings and 600 abductions since the beginning of January 2022.

“From several investigations carried out by Intersociety and severally published, 260 of the slain Eastern Christians and non-Muslim others met their death in open unprovoked and unwarranted attacks by the jihadists using automatic rifles, machetes and other weapons of death while the remaining 150 deaths occurred in jihadist captivity involving those abducted and held captive, later killed and dumped to decompose at bush or forest paths.

“Enugu State is the worst hit with no fewer than 160 deaths out of the 260 open killings. The Eha-Amufu in Isiuzo LGA of the State is the worst-hit community with 90-100 deaths. As much as 70 defenseless lives have been lost in Eha-Amufu communities of Ebor, Umujiovu, Mgbuji and Agu-Amede in Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen attacks that occurred in less than one month on 21-23 Nov 2022, 8-10 Dec 2022 and 18th Dec 2022….