‘Ukpata Is Burning’: Ejiofor Condemns Alleged Killings in Enugu, Faults Mbah’s Response

By Chukwudi Ebele

Human rights lawyer and social critic, Sir Ifeanyichukwu Ejiofor, Esq., has condemned the reported killings in Ukpata community, Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, allegedly carried out by suspected armed herdsmen.

Ejiofor also criticised the Enugu State Government’s alleged failure to respond decisively to the security crisis, accusing it of prioritising political activities while residents of affected communities continue to live in fear.

In an article titled “When Ancestral Homes Become Killing Fields: Ukpata Community Bleeds from a Deadly Invasion by Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen, as Families Weep Over Their Fallen Loved Ones,” the lawyer described the reported attack as a devastating tragedy that demands urgent government intervention.

According to Ejiofor, the attack occurred amid political activities in the state, including the inauguration of Governor Peter Mbah’s campaign council.

He lamented what he described as a disturbing contrast between the attention devoted to political engagements and the suffering of residents allegedly facing repeated attacks.

“While political permutations and electoral calculations were receiving elaborate attention, the ancestral homeland of Ukpata community in Uzo-Uwani LGA, Enugu State, was being subjected to a horrific bloodbath,” Ejiofor stated.

He alleged that heavily armed attackers invaded the community, leaving residents dead, families shattered and others injured.

Ejiofor identified one of the reported victims as Ezechi Ekenechukwu, 28, whom he described as a promising young man and breadwinner whose death had left his family devastated.

“Ezechi, a promising young man and breadwinner, had his life brutally cut short by the invading assailants. A family that once looked to him for hope and sustenance must now contend with the unbearable reality of his absence,” he said.

The lawyer expressed sympathy with the bereaved families and the entire Ukpata community, describing the loss of innocent lives as cruel and senseless.

He further expressed concern over reports that no arrests had been made, despite the alleged attack and fears of further violence.

“How many more innocent lives must be sacrificed before the protection of these vulnerable communities is treated as an emergency rather than a matter of political convenience?” he queried.

Ejiofor called on Governor Mbah to suspend campaign-related activities and visit the affected community to assess the situation and reassure residents of the government’s commitment to their safety.

“Perhaps Governor Peter Mbah should consider suspending the celebratory rhythm of campaign activities long enough to visit this grieving community, personally assess the devastation and demonstrate that the lives of rural Enugu residents matter just as much as the political arithmetic of the forthcoming elections,” he said.

The human rights lawyer warned that the continued presence of armed criminal elements in the forests and farmlands of Uzo-Uwani could further embolden them if decisive action was not taken.

He also commended Enugu forest guards for their efforts, but urged the government to provide them with more sophisticated equipment, improved intelligence support and adequate operational resources.

According to him, security personnel cannot effectively confront heavily armed criminal groups without the necessary tools and institutional support.

Ejiofor maintained that the alleged occupation of farmlands and surrounding bushes in Ukpata must be addressed through concrete security measures rather than political statements or superficial interventions.

“Those who have made peaceful habitation impossible must be made to understand that the government will no longer tolerate their criminal occupation,” he declared.

Drawing attention to the urgency of the situation, Ejiofor said the community could no longer afford to wait for committees, promises or political speeches.

“There is an old saying that when the house is on fire, one does not assemble the elders to debate the colour of the flames. Ukpata is burning. Its people are mourning. Its ancestral heritage is under siege.

“This is no longer a matter for another committee, another promise or another campaign speech. It is a call for urgent, decisive and uncompromising action,” he said.

Ejiofor concluded by praying for the repose of the souls of those reportedly killed and for strength for their grieving families.

“ENOUGH OF THE BLOODLETTING! UKPATA MUST NOT BE ABANDONED!” he declared.

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