₦airaland Forum

Copyright PUNCH.
While killing our men, herdsmen boasted nothing would happen to them because their people head security agencies -Woman who survived Ebonyi killings.


Mrs Ngozi Odo-Abuchi is a graduate of the National Teachers’ Institute, who works in the Education Department of the Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. In this interview with RAPHAEL EDE, the 49-year-old widow who survived herdsmen’s attack on Obeagu community in the Ishielu LGA on Monday last week, explains her face-to-face encounter with death

We learnt that you narrowly escaped the herdsmen’s attack on the Obeagu Road. How did it happen? Why did they spare your life?

On Monday, while I was coming home from where I went to, I mounted an okada from their park at the Nkalagu junction to convey me to Obeagu, my hometown. The rider is from the same community but not the same village. We left Nkalagu around 5pm and from Nkalagu to Obeagu is between 30 and 45 minutes with a motorcycle. We passed our junction, Egedegede, and about half way into the town, we saw people wearing black attire and most of them were inside the bush. Because the okada rider was on top speed, he could not stop immediately after sighting those people. And because he was not suspecting anything, he continued.

Unfortunately, when we got to that point, those people swooped on us. We were trying to run, but we didn’t know they had surrounded the entire place and they grabbed us. They started beating us, dragged us into the bush so that nobody could easily see what they were doing from the road. They were hitting us with their machetes on the head and kicking us with their boots. They stabbed the motorcyclist in the stomach and slit his throat. That was how they killed all the men; some of the attackers cut the men’s noses and hands after killing them.

When you got to the Egedegede junction, did you not see the vehicles and motorcycles that were burnt along the road?

They had not done that. It appeared that they started the killing on the road leading to the community. We were the first they stopped and the okada man conveying us was the first person they killed. As other motorcyclists were coming, they continued killing them, while the females were being tortured. After the beating, they would drag them inside the bush and ask them to lie down. They killed all the okada riders, but the women they didn’t kill, but beat us so mercilessly.



Why did they spare all the women and none was killed?

One of them, while they were killing the men, drew his dagger to stab me. Then I was seriously praying and remembering God’s promises to those who entrusted their lives to him. Suddenly, one of their leaders shouted at him: ‘Do not touch the women, they will go and tell their people that this is the consequences of daring to chase Fulani herdsmen out of their community. They will take our message to Nnamdi Kanu that he is doing his Biafra and that he and his IPOB cannot stop us from operating anywhere in the South-East or even South-South. All the heads of security agencies are our people. If they attack any Fulani man in any state, the government security agencies being controlled by our people will go after them, while we will come for reprisal. Tell Nnamdi Kanu of IPOB that he can continue to rant on social media, while we do what we know best.’

What is your experience like in the hands of the herdsmen?

What I saw that evening is better imagined. It was very horrific, but thank God for sparing my life. God is very merciful to me. I was calling the name of Jesus Christ to intervene and save us. While I was praying, I was also quoting the Bible, remembering his promises to those who believe and trust in him. So, as I was praying, one of them said I shouldn’t pray again and close my mouth, but I kept on praying and they kept beating me. One of them raised a dagger to kill me before another one shouted at him to stop and not to kill her or any of the women. There was nothing they didn’t use to torture us; they hit us with machetes; they kicked us with boots and marched upon us.

How long did the operation last?

I don’t know, but I know it started around 6pm and we were there till darkness covered us. After killing people, they started burning motorcycles. So, their attack at that location could have lasted about two to three hours or more, but I can’t be exact, because they collected all our belongings – phones, money and every valuable item, including handbags.


Then, how did you manage to come out alive?

It was a miracle of God really. After they had killed all the men, they gathered some motorcycles and were burning them. At that point, I discovered that they were not close to us and we all ran inside the bush and while we were running, we continued to hide behind trees and the darkness of the night covered us. So, we slept inside the bush until the following morning. In the morning, two of us who ran and hid in the same place trekked back to the scene to see if our belongings were left and some villagers saw us and took us home.

How many were the attackers?

They were many; more than 20. I couldn’t have counted them because some of them were on the road; some were staying with us and beating us, while some were going up and down. Probably, those ones were on surveillance looking for more people and ensuring that they were not repelled. Meanwhile, all of them were bearing AK-47 rifles with double magazines.

Do you know who the assailants were?

They were Fulani men. In short, they told us that they were Fulani; that they came to show us that since our people pursued them out of our community, they wanted to give us a parting gift.

Is your community having problems with herdsmen?


Yes. They used to take their cows into our farms and destroy crops. They harvest yams and cassava and use them to feed their cows; when our people complained, they would tell us that it wasn’t their cows that destroyed the crops. So, this year, our people asked them to leave our community so that we could return to the farm. You drove to this place, from that Egedegede junction to this town is about 15 kilometres and I am sure you didn’t see any side of the road that was cultivated and that is because when we cultivate, the herdsmen will bring their cows and destroy it.

Our land is lying fallow, while hunger is killing people, because they can’t go to farm. So, our people said since you could not cohabit with us in peace, it was better you relocate to another place. So, after that, a few weeks ago, the people they occupied their land now drove them out.

What did they tell you was the reason they came to kill your people?

They said our people killed their cows and today we must pay with our lives. Like I told you earlier, they said we were agitating for Biafra and that we would see if that would save us; that Nnamdi Kanu was just making a noise. They also said any community in the South that a Fulani was attacked or their cows killed, after using security agencies that their people control to ensure that the cows were paid for, they would attack the community. They told us to go and tell the chairman of the local government council that the that the attack they carry out won’t go to the Internet, but the one we carry out would be uploaded on the Internet immediately.

What language were they speaking?

They spoke Pidgin English and their language. They spoke their language when talking among themselves. But the Pidgin English was the language they were speaking mainly, probably because they wanted us to hear them. Looking at the way they carried out the killings, they looked like well-trained soldiers.

Did you have a premonition of the incident?


Yes. I had a revelation of this incident but it was about a month now. I saw it happened to me and since then, I had been praying against it until it was made manifest on that Monday. Before, I was watching on the television how people were being slaughtered, but it was etro Plus
Subscribe

Search the site
Search for:
Search …
punchng.com © 1971-2020 The Punch newspaper


PunchNG Menu:
Video
Spice
Special Features
Education
Sex & Relationship
Interview
Columns
Opinion
Privacy Settings


ICYMI: While killing our men, herdsmen boasted nothing would happen to them because their people head security agencies -Woman who survived Ebonyi killings
Raphael Ede
5:51 am
Kindly share this story:

Odo-Abuchi



Mrs Ngozi Odo-Abuchi is a graduate of the National Teachers’ Institute, who works in the Education Department of the Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. In this interview with RAPHAEL EDE, the 49-year-old widow who survived herdsmen’s attack on Obeagu community in the Ishielu LGA on Monday last week, explains her face-to-face encounter with death

We learnt that you narrowly escaped the herdsmen’s attack on the Obeagu Road. How did it happen? Why did they spare your life?

On Monday, while I was coming home from where I went to, I mounted an okada from their park at the Nkalagu junction to convey me to Obeagu, my hometown. The rider is from the same community but not the same village. We left Nkalagu around 5pm and from Nkalagu to Obeagu is between 30 and 45 minutes with a motorcycle. We passed our junction, Egedegede, and about half way into the town, we saw people wearing black attire and most of them were inside the bush. Because the okada rider was on top speed, he could not stop immediately after sighting those people. And because he was not suspecting anything, he continued.

READ ALSO: Daughter reports dad to police, alleges five-year defilement

Unfortunately, when we got to that point, those people swooped on us. We were trying to run, but we didn’t know they had surrounded the entire place and they grabbed us. They started beating us, dragged us into the bush so that nobody could easily see what they were doing from the road. They were hitting us with their machetes on the head and kicking us with their boots. They stabbed the motorcyclist in the stomach and slit his throat. That was how they killed all the men; some of the attackers cut the men’s noses and hands after killing them.

When you got to the Egedegede junction, did you not see the vehicles and motorcycles that were burnt along the road?

They had not done that. It appeared that they started the killing on the road leading to the community. We were the first they stopped and the okada man conveying us was the first person they killed. As other motorcyclists were coming, they continued killing them, while the females were being tortured. After the beating, they would drag them inside the bush and ask them to lie down. They killed all the okada riders, but the women they didn’t kill, but beat us so mercilessly.



Why did they spare all the women and none was killed?

One of them, while they were killing the men, drew his dagger to stab me. Then I was seriously praying and remembering God’s promises to those who entrusted their lives to him. Suddenly, one of their leaders shouted at him: ‘Do not touch the women, they will go and tell their people that this is the consequences of daring to chase Fulani herdsmen out of their community. They will take our message to Nnamdi Kanu that he is doing his Biafra and that he and his IPOB cannot stop us from operating anywhere in the South-East or even South-South. All the heads of security agencies are our people. If they attack any Fulani man in any state, the government security agencies being controlled by our people will go after them, while we will come for reprisal. Tell Nnamdi Kanu of IPOB that he can continue to rant on social media, while we do what we know best.’

What is your experience like in the hands of the herdsmen?

What I saw that evening is better imagined. It was very horrific, but thank God for sparing my life. God is very merciful to me. I was calling the name of Jesus Christ to intervene and save us. While I was praying, I was also quoting the Bible, remembering his promises to those who believe and trust in him. So, as I was praying, one of them said I shouldn’t pray again and close my mouth, but I kept on praying and they kept beating me. One of them raised a dagger to kill me before another one shouted at him to stop and not to kill her or any of the women. There was nothing they didn’t use to torture us; they hit us with machetes; they kicked us with boots and marched upon us.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Police rescue two-year-old twins locked up for three days without food

How long did the operation last?

I don’t know, but I know it started around 6pm and we were there till darkness covered us. After killing people, they started burning motorcycles. So, their attack at that location could have lasted about two to three hours or more, but I can’t be exact, because they collected all our belongings – phones, money and every valuable item, including handbags.


Then, how did you manage to come out alive?

It was a miracle of God really. After they had killed all the men, they gathered some motorcycles and were burning them. At that point, I discovered that they were not close to us and we all ran inside the bush and while we were running, we continued to hide behind trees and the darkness of the night covered us. So, we slept inside the bush until the following morning. In the morning, two of us who ran and hid in the same place trekked back to the scene to see if our belongings were left and some villagers saw us and took us home.

How many were the attackers?

Read Also
VIDEO: We must be careful not to seek revenge -Osinbajo to victims of Ebonyi village attack
South-East killings: We are hiding our faces in shame, says Umahi
ICYMI: I’ll return to my N20m farm if govt gives me licence to use gun –US returnee
They were many; more than 20. I couldn’t have counted them because some of them were on the road; some were staying with us and beating us, while some were going up and down. Probably, those ones were on surveillance looking for more people and ensuring that they were not repelled. Meanwhile, all of them were bearing AK-47 rifles with double magazines.

Do you know who the assailants were?

They were Fulani men. In short, they told us that they were Fulani; that they came to show us that since our people pursued them out of our community, they wanted to give us a parting gift.

Is your community having problems with herdsmen?


Yes. They used to take their cows into our farms and destroy crops. They harvest yams and cassava and use them to feed their cows; when our people complained, they would tell us that it wasn’t their cows that destroyed the crops. So, this year, our people asked them to leave our community so that we could return to the farm. You drove to this place, from that Egedegede junction to this town is about 15 kilometres and I am sure you didn’t see any side of the road that was cultivated and that is because when we cultivate, the herdsmen will bring their cows and destroy it.

Our land is lying fallow, while hunger is killing people, because they can’t go to farm. So, our people said since you could not cohabit with us in peace, it was better you relocate to another place. So, after that, a few weeks ago, the people they occupied their land now drove them out.

What did they tell you was the reason they came to kill your people?

They said our people killed their cows and today we must pay with our lives. Like I told you earlier, they said we were agitating for Biafra and that we would see if that would save us; that Nnamdi Kanu was just making a noise. They also said any community in the South that a Fulani was attacked or their cows killed, after using security agencies that their people control to ensure that the cows were paid for, they would attack the community. They told us to go and tell the chairman of the local government council that the attack they carry out won’t go to the Internet, but the one we carry out would be uploaded on the Internet immediately.

What language were they speaking?

They spoke Pidgin English and their language. They spoke their language when talking among themselves. But the Pidgin English was the language they were speaking mainly, probably because they wanted us to hear them. Looking at the way they carried out the killings, they looked like well-trained soldiers.

Did you have a premonition of the incident?


Yes. I had a revelation of this incident but it was about a month now. I saw it happened to me and since then, I had been praying against it until it was made manifest on that Monday. Before, I was watching on the television how people were being slaughtered, but it was during the attack that I saw it with my eyes. It is only the grace of God that I survived the attack. It is callous, inhuman and atrocious.

Since the incident happened, have the police or any other security agency or government officials visited you to ask you how it happened?

None of those you mentioned has visited me. It is only some community members and my relations who are coming to check on me and ask how it happened.

Copyright PUNCH.

Hi guys, I have gotten my purchase and am feeling really good this morning. Inspite of the the covid restrictions service delivery was satisfactory. This guy is legit and price is reasonable. So long your price and services remain competitive I will definitely continue using Metro box.

Hi I sent you a message regarding any update on my galaxy watch active 2 package am still waiting for a reply.

Metroxchange:
Hello there,

Thanks for contacting MetroBox Nigeria

Do you mean the thread lacks feedback from clients or from the organisation

Kindly send us a message through our WhatsApp contact for further details and clarifications about the landing cost

Yeah, you really need more feedback from previous users of your services to engender more trust form prospective users (you know how we are in these parts). I will advise a bit more interaction here even while directing customers to your Whatsapp platform cause once it gets to Whatsapp it becomes private and most customers will not be bothered to come back here to sing your praise or fall your hand. There are some similar services on Nairaland that might not necessarily be better than yours (price-wise or reliability) but attract more customers because there is more transaction related content on their thread. It just seems hollow if it is Metrobox just posting and reposting on the thread. Still expecting my package and thanks for the updates on Whatsapp (you can also have updates on deliveries posted here without even referencing the buyers). Cheers.

ThatFairGuy:
Distinguish comrade Addams Aliyu Oshiomhole is a man of respect, he should be dignified with one. God bless you our former dogged chairman.
The agenda is SIMPLE.

Guy you have no iron on this fire. So zip up. We shall not accept a Tinubu like you Yorubas have so meekly done. If you accepted that Ize-Iyamu was a thief in 2020 what has now changed to warrant you adorning your post with his campaign photo. Abeg because your own don spoil no mean say you go come spoil another own. Hear word o!

obiekunie2:
Exactly!

maybe the instruction his babalawo gave him is never to help any body and sikiru made him break it.


now he has to suffer the consequences..

Representative of a lost generation. Chai no hope in sight for Nigeria.

Hi, I just made an order for a Galaxy Watch active 2 through Metro box after chatting via Whatsapp will be giving feedback on the quality of their service here because this thread really lacks feedback from their customers.

saxy4c:
Usdcad 3660 hit 150pips tp. The bears can chop now.

Selling USDCAD 3650 SL 3690 Tp 3590

That is a sniper trade. Respect.

Please does anyone have a clean used Galaxy Watch Active 2 44mm for sale? Quote me in your response. Also, my Whatsapp number is on my signature.

georgee:
I nearly jumped inside Lagoon cos of Tizeti due to their extremely poor service.. I had to leave them with thier 2mbps which is only obtainable from 3am-5am when other customers are still sleeping

Don't mind all these ISPs. Blowing their trumpet all over the place instead of providing usable service. I am suffering seriously here from what SWIFT 4G is giving me. I cannot do a single thing online.

Lordsonn:
She wrote WAEC last session and got nine credits but the memory of her betrayal is giving me a lot of psychological trauma. I love an educated woman and cannot see myself glued to an illiterate woman in the name of marriage.

Major problems that made me sent her out:

1) She refused to go to my church. She always want to go to her church and even want me to join her there which I refused.
2) She doesn’t like education at all. She hate going to school and will never carry book to read.

[/b]

How did she get 9 credits in WAEC and still is an illiterate that does not like education?

cyndylove64:
Hmmmm public transport own will not work

It will work well if the government goes through MC Oluomo and his boys (NURTW). If dem direct the drivers, na one hand dem go comply.

stanech:
Make una collect una property na, na by force to chop rice?

Guy, me sef I tire o.

Apaullex:
Hmm, my dear, if you know the gravity of that simple reminder he posted, you will consider your ways, repent of your sins and make peace with God through Christ Jesus. This is the only escape route from eternal fire of Hell.

Which one of you talking about hellfire here will be hard hearted enough to burn their children in a pit of fire because the children were stubborn?

This COAS stupid sha! He should have just jeje kept quiet. Ha! See how Chad done blow fowl yansh open. We have now seen that boko haram is actually an instrument of state to accomplish some devilish aim here in Naija. The idiots now made the mistake of trying Chadian forces who no send them. Am sure their Nigeria government sponsors will have called them to ask them why they did not stick trying Nigerian soldiers who have being programmed to run away leaving weapon caches behind whenever they see boko haram. How can some untrained ragtag militia hold us ransom for so long for two successive administrations under two different parties when before now we have been here shouting best military force in Africa. This is just an indication that we might even be ripe for takeover by supposed smaller countries around us. After all Access Bank fit takeover Oceanic Bank so it is not far fetched. Haa! My country na wa o!

President Deby! President Deby!! President Deby!!! You are the son of your father. God will bless you and your brave soldiers a thousand fold for each soul the satanic boko haram has killed or maimed.

Please biko, help us finish the remaining 10% that are running around. Please don't wait for our clueless lily-livered retired "general" and his bloodsucking lackeys that he calls service chiefs. They will only go and grow that remaining 10% to full strength again and all your effort would then be for nothing. Is this not the same boko haram that our military has turned into an unkillable, undefeatable entity that you just gave one punch and they are reeling around like a punch drunk heavyweight boxer? Once again, thank you very much.

Lastly, If there is any way you can reach our President, please tell him that whatever he is gaining now by allowing the lives of his fellow Muslims and serving officers to be taken anyhow, it will definitely not be worth what he stands to lose in his place in history.

Idriss Déby, Chadian president, has directed his soldiers not to allow their Nigerian counterparts free captured Boko Haram insurgents.

Chadian troops had, a week ago, launched an offensive against the insurgents in the Goje-Chadian area of Sambisa forest, a stronghold of Boko Haram.

Scores of the insurgents were killed and the Chadian soldiers took over their arms’ store in the area.

In a viral video, Déby is seen telling the troops that if freed, the insurgents would come to Chad to hurt them.

“This place will be our zone until Nigeria sends its soldiers. Stay with them for about a month. Do not let them free captured weapons or any Boko Haram terrorists, they will return to Chad and this will just hurt us,” he said.

“So let them just understand. We are not leaving the situation like this. In the next few days, I will speak with the President of Niger. You guys destroyed at least 90 percent of Boko Haram. That I confirm and can tell the world that 90 percent of Boko Haram is destroyed.

“The 10 percent that are left are running everywhere. Some have drowned and some ran to Niger, some to Nigeria but they will never come to Chad again. Chad is no place for Boko Haram.”

In March 2015, Déby said Nigeria was absent from the war against Boko Haram.

In 2016, the Nigerian army had launched Operation Safe Corridor, an initiative for the deradicalisation and rehabilitation of all ex-Boko Haram members, an idea some soldiers kicked against.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KO3rhWz0zcQ

AfricaNigerian:
op you're an ingrate

those were the boys that secured both you and the whole of agege all through the night and they aren't awawa boys, these guys brought out their guns, cutlasses and other weapons just to protect the whole of agege last night... please be sure of something before you post next time. thank you

Yes, OP next time check before posting or better don't post fake news at all just because you want front page. They actually look like they are NOT harassing or robbing people. This same thing has being happening in my area just to help prevent possible invasion by the real thieves.

Righteousness89:
It's Unfortunate! Those who should be Embracing GOD are pushing Him away..

May GOD Have Mercy on you!

Why don't you righteous ones share necessities of life the way you try to share so called "salvation" by force? The same mouth that says the virus is from God will say come to God. Is God a terrorist?

To someone out there you are a rat and could be treated likewise.

Godsfavour78:
if possible I will even use grenade launcher on the rat. I hate this animal so much since I was a kid I remember driving nail through the skull of a rat caught in rat gum and it started bleeding from the nose and mouth and eyes and ears. I also burnt out the eyes of another one with matches.

Just last week I saw a weakened rat outside my house I buried it alive.

It is time for you to start viewing sex at this stage as not being instinctive. Just like a lot of other things before marriage and kid, it will now have to involve planning. Abi you wan sell the children off because them dey disturb sex . think instead of how you can be more supportive in helping your wife with caring for the kids. After all, was sex the primary driver behind your decision to get married. In good time you will have your wife all to yourself again.

Prosper82:
I Feel Like My Marriage Is Falling Apart

I would like in advance to apologize for the long post but I think some background information is needed so you can assess the situation.

My wife and I have two kids. The oldest is turning 8 soon and the youngest is 7 months old.

Since our first child was born she has been co-sleeping with us. And ever since our sex life has been going down hill.

Now since our youngest child was born he has also been sleeping with us in a queen sized bed. But after two months of very poor sleep, I decided I couldn't follow that arrangement anymore so I went to sleep in the next room.

So since our kids were born my wife has been sleeping with them and now I sleep alone.

As you could imagine, you can't really have sex with two kids on the bed. We have gone weeks and even months without having any sex.
So my wife says that we should have sex in the room where I sleep after she puts the children to sleep.

This to me sounds like making an appointment to have sex. It isn't something you can have if you have to set up a time in advanced. I also miss cuddling with her and sleeping in our bed.


I feel like us sleeping in different rooms and beds has been the biggest hurdle to get back to the point we were before having kids.

We have a crib for the baby and a bed for our oldest daughter where each of the children could sleep separately but she's into attachment parenting so if the children cry (which I suppose they will when adapting to a new sleeping arrangement) is something that she wouldn't tolerate.

I also I understand the 7 month old might need to be breastfed in the middle of the night so she says it's more convenient just to have him nearby in bed than having to get up to breastfeed him but I feel that my daughter should be learning to sleep independently.

Anyway, it's been quite a while without sex and I don't know what to tell her or do.
We have a lot of fights because of this.

I feel that attachment parenting might feel like you're doing the best for the kids, but if it also ends up destroying the marriage and we separate what good would that do for them?

What do you guys think?

Dual sim?

KulKid:
Bro if that's ur opinion abt me no p.But lemme let u knw sumtin, last time I called my guy in Italy he told me they are paying 20euro per month for unlimited data...meaning u download till infinity.Nw if I get such a data stuff here in naija that is reliable why won't I jump in even if I hv 2 pay 10k per month! So broda,we are suffering in dis country,my prayer is for tins to get beta in dis country#Lets pray 4 naija abeg.

Not true, no mobile service provider in Europe will give you unlimited mobile plan for 20 Euro.

KulKid:
First of all dis is in no way trying to spoil anybody biz,but nw we live in a country whr data price is going the direction of fuel price stuff(if u understand what I mean).I did my research and found out when I sub from data resellers and download a file of let's say 500mb,a total of almost 1gb or more than will be zapped from my remaining data.But if I do a a normal sub from mtn and download a file of 7mb file I would be charged let's say 7mb or almost 8mb from my data.So I tried to download when my sub was almost up from my data resellers bundle(mb).And I downloaded a file of 6mb and to my surprise almost 12mb was zapped from my mb.So guys my advice is to sub directly from ur mtn mb subscription menu.But dis is jst my opinion sha,commenter mk una look into d matter 4 me.

This is not true, just tested by downloading from playstore 2 files 12mb and 36mb and data consumption after checking data balance was 49mb. So guys check your background data consuming apps. You can do this test yourself rather than jumping on the bandwagon.

emmcode:
Greetings guys .....

I don't know which to choose between Xiaomi k20 pro or Redmi note 8 pro

I am a fan of great camera, better display and strong battery.


Please � your opinion is highly needed

Una wey sabi phone

Get the k20 pro if you gat the dough, because them no be mate.

izzou:


Hypocrite

Eye service dingbat

Even Buhari has made it clear that he is not interested

In the beginning, he was only interested in 1 term but where are we now? Speak for yourself o.

[quote author=Rakiticbarca post=83490506][/quote]Would like to get this. What does TLC mean?

Hello guys.

Dream League is more fun than either options you are looking at.