The Enugu State Police Command has dismissed reports suggesting that herdsmen have invaded the Eha-Amufu community, describing them as misleading and intended to cause panic.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Police Daniel Ndukwe, refuted claims that residents of Eha-Amufu had been displaced by herdsmen. He emphasized that the alleged report was “baseless, mischievous, and a calculated attempt to mislead the public and instill fear.”
According to Ndukwe, the farm settlements referenced in the report are not permanent residences but temporary shelters used by farmers who return to their villages after the farming season.
He clarified that while these settlements were affected by farmer-herder clashes in 2021 and 2022, peace had since been restored through joint security operations.
“The Police Command particularly acknowledges the intentional and intensive interventions of the Government of Enugu State to enhance security, especially in Eha-Amufu community and its adjoining areas under the leadership of Governor Peter Mbah,” Ndukwe said.
He highlighted several security measures undertaken by the state government, including the deployment of 150 military personnel and Special Forces, the establishment of security barracks, and the construction of the 21.7km Agape-Agu-Mgbuji-Ogbete access road, which is nearing completion.
The police spokesperson also accused the media outlet that published the report of using outdated and unrelated images to support its claims.
“After diligent forensic and digital fact-checking, it was discovered that the images were taken from old reports on incidents in neighboring states and other locations, then mischievously repurposed to mislead the public,” he stated.
Ndukwe cited an example where photos of burnt houses posted by Amnesty International in response to an attack on Nkalaeha community in a different state on February 4 were falsely presented as recent images from Eha-Amufu.
The Commissioner of Police, Mamman Giwa, has urged the public to disregard the report and assured residents of the continued commitment of security agencies to maintaining peace and stability in Enugu State.
“The command calls on citizens, particularly those in the allegedly affected communities of Eha-Amufu in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, to remain law-abiding, cooperate with security agencies, and report any genuine security concerns through official channels,” Giwa stated.
