By Sebastine Chukwuebuka Okafor,
A few days ago, social media was flooded with reports about a demonstration by the good people of Eha-Amufu in Isi Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State over the persistent attacks they suffer from bandits.
I use the word bandits because, oftentimes, when some of these attackers are apprehended or killed, evidence has shown that not all of them belong to the tribe traditionally associated with cattle rearing.
To me, this demonstration was a desperate attempt to draw the attention of the state government, as well as leaders at all levels, to their plight.
These people are losing their loved ones daily. They are being killed, raped, and driven from their ancestral land by these attackers, yet there seems to be no immediate solution from any quarter.
They have done their best to defend their land, but their enemies keep increasing.
In one of the recent attacks, Eha Amufu lost one of its heroes, known as Sharia. His death deepened the fear and helplessness in the community.
Yet, they continued to endure the suffering until it became unbearable. Imagine the horror of a loved one being raped and left with a long stick inside her – ihe o jiri bụrụ nwanyị (the very thing that makes her a woman). That is not an experience anyone would wish on even their worst enemy.
When the demonstration took place, I felt for these people because they are a part of me.
I came to Eha Amufu in 1995, completed my nursery and primary school there, and began my secondary education before leaving in 2006.
What baffled me, however, was the statement made by the local government chairman, Mr. Not Always in the Office, regarding the protest.
He attributed the demonstration to misinformation allegedly spread by political actors from Mgbuji and Eha-Ohuala.
According to him, the real issue was not the security crisis but false claims about farm estate, ranching, and produce city projects.
He even went as far as calling the protest a war against Mr. Tax Collector, Nwoke Owo.
To make matters worse, the media handlers of Nwoke Owo blindly accepted this narrative and vigorously promoted it.
They even went on to stage a counter-protest, turning the crisis into a poorly scripted drama. One would wonder what inspired the rented crowd they used for this charade.
But before long, another massive demonstration erupted, prompting the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Eha Amufu to step in and calm the situation.
The people of Eha Amufu are not just crying for attention; they are crying for survival. Their lands, homes, and dignity are being taken away, yet the response from those in power has been nothing but deflection and propaganda.
Instead of addressing the grave security challenges, the local government chairman and his team have chosen to engage in rhetoric, pointing fingers at imaginary political enemies while the real attackers continue their atrocities.
How can a government that swore to protect lives and property turn a blind eye to such carnage? This is not just negligence; it is a betrayal of the highest order.
It is even more unfortunate that certain media handlers of Nwoke Owo, rather than providing objective reports or advocating for urgent intervention, have resorted to misrepresentation and mockery.
Their attempt to downplay the suffering of the people by staging a counter-narrative is not only insensitive but also shameful.
How do you justify the rape, murder, and displacement of thousands of innocent people? How do you twist the truth when mass graves and shattered families stand as undeniable evidence of the horror Eha Amufu has endured?
No amount of propaganda can erase the pain and trauma of these victims.
At this critical moment, what Eha Amufu needs is not blame games but real solutions.
The state government, security agencies, and relevant stakeholders must rise to the occasion and provide lasting interventions.
While the Anglican Bishop of Eha Amufu has made efforts to calm the situation, peace cannot be achieved through mere words.
Concrete actions must follow—adequate security presence, intelligence-driven operations, and genuine dialogue with affected communities.
Nwoke Owo must understand that leadership is about responsibility, not theatrics. If nothing is done urgently, history will remember those who ignored the cries of the oppressed and sided with falsehood over justice.
It is imperative that Nwoke Owo takes immediate steps to address the security situation in Eha-Amufu through diplomacy and strategic intervention before the crisis spirals out of control.
