Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen reportedly attacked the country home of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Frank Mbah in Ezimo Community, Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State, killing a police officer guarding the residence.
Naijaonpoint learnt that the incident occurred around 7 pm on Thursday.
The development has heightened tension in Ezimo and neighbouring communities already grappling with recurrent cases of kidnapping and banditry.
SaharaReporters quoted community sources as reporting that the fully armed assailants attempted to force their way into the compound but were resisted by the security guard.
“When the security guard raised an alarm, the assailants killed him, collected his rifle, and disappeared into the bush,” one resident told reporters.
The attackers reportedly vanished before reinforcements could arrive.
Residents suspect the same gunmen may have been responsible for the killing of a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Mathew Eya, who was shot dead the following evening in Eha-Ndiagu, a neighbouring community in Nsukka Local Government Area.
“We believe it was the same network of kidnappers that was operating within that axis. They have kidnapped people close to Mbah’s house before, less than 500 metres away, but this was the first time they killed someone,” another source explained.
Community members say the Ezimo-Eha-Ndiagu axis has become a hotspot for kidnapping, with sand and gravel miners often sighting the marauders.
“There are very serious security threats around those areas. Our people see those guys regularly. Unfortunately, we have a weak security system,” a villager said.
The slain policeman was said to be one of several officers attached to DIG Mbah’s residence, but others were reportedly absent during the attack.
Following the incident, locals alleged that police arrested a passerby suspected of being drunk, insisting he was wrongly profiled as one of the assailants.
“Nobody from Ezimo community will nurse evil against Frank Mbah. He is our pride,” a resident stressed.
However, the Enugu State Police Command had yet to issue any official statement regarding the latest development as of the time of filing this report.
Naijaonpoint reports that the twin incidents, the attack on Mbah’s home and the killing of Rev. Fr. Eya, have sparked fear across Ezimo and nearby communities.
Residents have called for stronger security measures, warning that unchecked criminal activity in the area could escalate further.
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