Four herders have been killed in an attack by unidentified gunmen on a cattle settlement in Agu-Ifite, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, according to the Anambra State Police Command and the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN).
The deceased were identified as Mohammed Bujumi, Hassan Bujumi, Abubakar Bujumi and Sani Bujumi, who were said to be brothers from the same family.
In a statement, MACBAN’s National Deputy Director-General, Alhaji Gidado Siddiki, said the attackers invaded the cattle camp belonging to Alhaji Aminu Mohammed while the herders were carrying out their routine activities.
He alleged that the assailants opened fire on the victims, killing four of them, while several cattle were also killed during the attack.
Siddiki added that some of the slaughtered cattle were reportedly taken away by the attackers towards the nearby Mgbakwu community, while one herder, Usman Iliyasu, escaped unharmed.
He condemned the attack and called on security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation, arrest the perpetrators and ensure they were brought to justice.
Siddiki also appealed to the Anambra State Government to strengthen security measures to safeguard the lives and property of residents.
He, however, commended the prompt intervention of the Joint Task Force and the state government in recovering the bodies of the victims.
He urged members of the association to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, described the attack as gruesome and announced that the Commissioner of Police had ordered a comprehensive investigation.
Ikenga said a Police-led Joint Security Team responded to a distress call and discovered four male victims with fatal injuries at the scene.
He said preliminary investigations revealed that the victims had their hands tied and sustained multiple injuries, including machete cuts and blunt force trauma.
According to him, two residential huts within the settlement were set ablaze during the attack.
The police also recovered four dead cows at the scene, while two other cattle had been slaughtered and portions of the meat removed by the attackers.
He added that sacks containing abandoned chunks of meat were found a short distance from the settlement.
Ikenga said preliminary findings indicated that the attackers were armed with sophisticated weapons, including AK-47 rifles, pump-action guns, double-barrel guns and machetes.
He disclosed that the surviving herder was assisting investigators with useful information to aid the ongoing investigation.
“The Anambra State Police Command is committed to conducting a thorough, professional and intelligence-driven investigation to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice,” Ikenga said.
He urged members of the public to remain calm and support security agencies by providing credible information that could assist the investigation.
