Suspected gunmen in the early hours of Tuesday stormed a cattle camp in Ifite Awka Community, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, killing four herders.
The deceased, who were brothers from the same parents, were identified as Mohammed Bujumi,
Hassan Bujumi, Abubakar Bujumi, and Sani Bujumi.
National Deputy Director-General of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Gidado Siddiki, in a statement, disclosed that several cattle were also killed during the attack.
The cattle camp, the statement added, belongs to one Alhaji Aminu Mohammed.
MACBAN said unknown armed assailants invaded the cattle camp while the herders were peacefully carrying out their legitimate cattle-rearing activities.
The statement added that the attackers opened fire indiscriminately, killing the four herders.
MACBAN further stated that several cattle were slaughtered during the attack, while the assailants reportedly fled with some of the cattle carcasses towards the nearby Mgbakwu Community.
The association, however, said one of the herders, Usman Iliyasu, narrowly escaped the attack.
“MACBAN strongly condemns this heinous and senseless attack and calls on all relevant security agencies to immediately investigate the incident, apprehend the perpetrators, and bring them to justice,” Siddiki said.
He also appealed to the Anambra State Government to take urgent steps to strengthen security and protect the lives and property of law-abiding citizens in the state.
“We sincerely appreciate the prompt response of the Joint Task Force and the Anambra State Government for their swift intervention and efforts in recovering the bodies of the deceased. Their timely action is commendable and demonstrates their commitment to maintaining peace and security,” he added.
Siddiki further advised all MACBAN members to remain calm, stay within their camps, and refrain from taking the law into their own hands.
One of the herders, in Awka, said the victims were attacked at Ifite, near Miracle Junction, in Ifite Awka, Awka South Local Government Area.
He said the gunmen fled after encountering superior military firepower.
He further stated that before the arrival of the security team, the gunmen had already begun butchering the cattle.
Confirming the attack, the spokesman of the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, condemned what he described as a gruesome attack on a residential settlement in the hinterland of Agu-Ifite, Awka.
The Commissioner of Police, he said, has ordered a comprehensive investigation to identify and apprehend those responsible for the attack.
He disclosed that Police-led Joint Security Team operatives responded promptly to the scene following a distress call.
Ikenga further disclosed that the Joint Security Team found four cows lying lifeless within the vicinity, while two others had been slaughtered and portions of the meat removed by the attackers. He added that several sacks containing abandoned chunks of meat were recovered a short distance from the scene.
According to him, preliminary findings indicate that the attackers were armed with sophisticated weapons, including AK-47 rifles, pump-action guns, double-barrel guns and machetes.
The police spokesman said one survivor escaped unharmed and is assisting the Police-led Joint Security Team with useful information to aid the ongoing investigation.
According to Ikenga, the Command remains committed to conducting a thorough, professional and intelligence-driven investigation to ensure that all those responsible are identified, arrested and prosecuted.
“The Anambra State Police Command urges members of the public to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible and timely information that may assist the ongoing investigation. Further developments will be communicated as the investigation progresses,” he said.
