The Enugu State Police Command has ignited controversy after outrightly denying reports that Fulani herdsmen carried out a deadly string of attacks in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, allegedly killing no fewer than 25 villagers. In a sharply worded statement, police spokesperson Daniel Ndukwe dismissed the widely circulated story as “entirely false, sensational, and mischievous,” accusing media outlets of peddling misinformation with fabricated names and nonexistent incidents.“This is a calculated attempt to misinform the public and undermine the efforts of security agencies,” Ndukwe stated, echoing the sentiments of the State Commissioner of Police, Mamman Giwa, who condemned the reports as “mischievous and baseless.”
But the police denial has sparked outrage among residents and rights advocates, who say the reports reflect a grim reality that authorities are attempting to whitewash. According to the initial reports, entire communities have been left in terror, with many fleeing to neighbouring Anambra and Kogi States to escape the violence. Eyewitness accounts, which the police labeled “vague” and “lacking credibility,” paint a chilling picture of death, displacement, and despair.
Critics argue that the police’s blanket dismissal of the incident raises more questions than answers. “It’s one thing to fact-check, it’s another to deny everything outright. People are scared, and their fears shouldn’t be brushed aside so easily,” said a civil society source.
As tensions rise and accusations of a possible cover-up swirl, calls are growing louder for an independent investigation into the alleged attacks—something neither the police nor the state government has committed to. Meanwhile, Enugu’s rural residents remain caught between fear and uncertainty.
