A horrific double murder has deeply unsettled the residents of Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, following the brutal killing of a 90-year-old man, Elder Otiakugwu, and his wife by unidentified attackers.
Eyewitnesses reported to that the elderly couple was hacked to death with machetes in the early hours of Wednesday.
According to local sources, the victims had recently been visited by their grandchild, who had since returned to school, unaware of the impending tragedy.
“The assailants slipped into Ekwuru village in Nimbo without detection and found the elderly couple eating. They murdered them on the spot, left the bloodied machetes on their bodies, and escaped under the cover of darkness,” a community member recounted. “It wasn’t until Thursday morning that their bodies were discovered in a pool of blood.”
The gruesome nature of the attack has left the community in shock and disbelief, as residents struggle to understand what could have prompted such a violent act.
“Why would anyone target the oldest man in the village and his wife in such a barbaric manner?” one resident lamented.
This recent tragedy has rekindled longstanding fears in Nimbo, a community that has endured a series of violent incidents believed to be perpetrated by suspected herdsmen. In 2016, a similar assault claimed the lives of approximately 12 residents. Since then, the area has experienced ongoing violence, including murder, sexual assault, and the destruction of agricultural land.
Reacting to the recent killings, Hon. David Utazi, President General of Nimbo community, expressed grave concern over the continuous attacks and growing insecurity.
He appealed to both federal and state authorities to establish a police quick-response unit in the area to address the recurring threats.
“We’ve never had lasting peace here,” Utazi said. “Fulani herdsmen regularly attack, destroying farmlands, uprooting cassava and yams, and committing heinous crimes such as rape and assault.”
He added that the herders often travel through Odoru in Nsukka LGA to reach Nimbo, and emphasized the need for security infrastructure across the vast stretch of land between Ida, Odoru, and Nimbo. He urged the government to act on an earlier approval granted in 2016 by then-Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, for a quick intervention base at Nkpologwu.
Meanwhile, Chijioke Ezugwu, Chairman of Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, confirmed that a suspect connected to the killings has been apprehended and handed over to law enforcement for a comprehensive investigation.
“We are actively addressing the situation and remain committed to making the local government area safe for all residents and visitors,” Ezugwu stated.
Efforts to obtain a comment from the Enugu State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the Command’s spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, was unreachable at the time of reporting.
