In a heartbreaking incident on Thursday evening, a female student from St. Paul’s College, Eke, in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, fell victim to brutal shootings. The assailants, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, reportedly targeted students heading home after school.
Reports reveal that the victim was fatally shot, and several other students sustained gunshot wounds, currently undergoing treatment in an undisclosed hospital.
A distressing video circulating online showed the lifeless body of the deceased student and survivors of the attack. A voice in the video also attributed the violence to Fulani herdsmen, pleading for government intervention in what is described as a perilous situation.
The school’s Principal, Rev. Fr. Frank, confirmed the tragedy, recounting how the assailants ambushed the students’ bus between 4:30-5 pm, leaving some with bullet wounds and one life lost in the hospital.
Expressing grief over the loss, Rev. Fr. Frank stated, “We feel so saddened to lose such a promising young girl in this circumstance.”
Community sources disclosed that the area, particularly the ‘Ofia-akwu’ forest spanning about 15 kilometers, has been a notorious den of kidnappers, with security agencies struggling to curb the activities of the marauding herdsmen.
A community leader, speaking anonymously, highlighted the grim reality of kidnappings in Udi and Ezeagu areas, emphasizing that victims are often held until ransom is paid. Those unable to meet the demands are killed.