Patrick Eze
It was widely reported that over 50 persons including men, women
and children were cold-bloodedly massacred by rampaging Fulani herdsmen
at Ukpabi/Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani L.G.A, Enugu State, recently.
Among the victims of the mayhem was a 25-year-old NYSC corps member
Patrick Eze, whose neck was hanging on his head by the grace of a thin
layer of flesh and ligaments after the attack. He was rushed to the
intensive unit of the Federal Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu where doctors
battled daily and succeeded in bringing him back to life.
Below are excerpts from an interview with Vanguard;
How it happened
It was around 5.30AM, when we heard the village bell ringing,
signalling danger. We heard voices from members of the village vigilante
group warning that Fulani herdsmen were around. I was lying down when I
heard the bell. I quickly stood up, wore my shoes and started running.
Before the bell rang, we were hearing gun shots. It was after the bell
that the gun shots increased. I ran from Onueke where I live with my
parents through Akaha-Unasi, a neighbouring community.
The gun shots persisted. More villagers joined me in looking for
safety. Midway, we heard that the Fulani’s were coming from Unasi and
have taken over the village. I then decided to take another path where I
started hearing the gunshots, too close to me. The bullets were
piercing through the bushes and air. It was too much. I had to dodge by
the bush to observe what was going on and detect where the gunshots were
coming from in order to know which way to run. While I was trying to do
that, I then saw the herdsmen. They were over fifty surging towards
me.
The first person was wearing red. They were armed with AK47 rifles.
They equally had machetes by their side. The first person attacked me
with his machete. The guy on red. I ran away but they flung the machete
and it cut my ankle. I fell down. They swooped on me, inflicting over 19
machete cuts and I became unconscious. They thought they had killed me.
After some hours, I woke up. A man saw me. He came and asked me what
happened but I could not talk. He quickly called the Vigilante Group and
they took me from that farm to Bishop Shanahan Hospital,Nsukka from
where I was later rushed to this hospital in Enugu.
Before the Invasion
The herdsmen wrote two weeks to the attack, informing us that they
would invade our community.. On coming back that April 21, my kinsmen
told me of the impending danger. I asked them how would an attack be
possible when the Fulani do not know the nooks and crannies of our
village. They have been grazing in the other parts of Nimbo but I am
sure they have not grazed in our villages. Where we ran to for safety,
they have not grazed there since they came to Nimbo. It was one of our
kinnsmen, Ben and the police Corporal that led them to our safe haven.
That black Monday, we were alert till 5am until the policemen who were
around said we should go and sleep. Then we went to bed. Barely
30mintues after, this incident happened. It was obvious that Ben and the
Corporal led the onslaught.
My Future Bright
I thank God for everything. The bible says, "Whatever situation you
find yourself, give thanks and glory to God. "God delivered me and he
will take care of my future.
Mother Speaks
Distraught but equally joyous mother of the survivor, 51-year-old Madam Eze, a farmer spoke about the incident.
"My son had stayed one year for NYSC in Jigawa State and so as a
mother, I was longing to see him having finished the programme. His
elder brother told him not to come but to start looking for job
immediately. I insisted that he should come, at least , for me to see
him.
Moreover, I had eye surgery for an impairment and I really
wanted to see my son before he moved to the larger world. It was upon
his visit after the NYSC service that this incident happened. I barely
had time to stay with him because other corpers in the village were
coming to see him before this incident happened on April 25. Now that
some arrests have been made, government should ensure that they are
prosecuted to bring some sought of relief to the families of bereaved
ones. What ever happens, Nimbo community will never be the same again
following this attack."
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