The South Saharan Social Development Organisation (SSDO), a non-governmental organisation, has strongly condemned recent killings in Aguamede, Eha-Amufu community in Enugu State and Yelewata in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, describing them as “unprovoked” and calling for urgent and decisive action from authorities.
In a statement titled “Enough is Enough”, released on Thursday in Enugu, SSDO’s Executive Director, Dr Stanley Ilechukwu, said the horrifying incidents represent not only acts of mass violence but also “grave violations of fundamental human rights.”
Dr Ilechukwu expressed deep concern over the worsening security situation in the Middle Belt and South-East regions, which he said has been allowed to deteriorate for too long.
“On Sunday, June 15, the quiet community of Aguamede, Eha-Amufu, in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State, was thrown into mourning,” he stated.
“Armed assailants, suspected to be herdsmen, invaded the community in the late afternoon while some residents were still in church, and began a cold and calculated massacre.”
He added, “By the time the village stirred in panic, more than 10 people had been slaughtered in their homes, their skulls split open. This tragedy comes only a week after a similar attack in nearby Mbuji community claimed four lives.”
Highlighting the history of violence in the region, Ilechukwu noted, “For over eight years, communities in Eha-Amufu and Ikem have cried out enduring attacks, displacement, and trauma, with their pain often overlooked because it is rural, it is quiet and it is far from the newspaper headlines.”
The statement also described the horrific attack in Yelewata, Benue State, which occurred on June 13.
According to SSDO, over 200 people were killed in the night assault, with entire families burned alive.
One father reportedly lost 20 members of his household, including children and pregnant women.
Dr Ilechukwu emphasized that these killings were not random but rather deliberate, following repeated threats.
“These are not isolated incidents, but part of a long-standing and painful crisis in Middle Belt and South-East regions,” he said.
In response to these tragedies, SSDO issued a set of demands directed at the Federal Government, the governments of Enugu and Benue states, the National Assembly, and the security agencies.
These include:
– Strengthening of rural security systems and increased, sustained joint patrols by the military and police in vulnerable communities.
– Structured support for local vigilante groups, including formal training and legal recognition in line with state laws.
– Full enforcement and scaling up of grazing and land-use laws, with support for the anti-open grazing laws of Enugu and Benue States.
– Promotion of peaceful livestock management alternatives like ranching, with federal investment in alternative livelihoods for nomadic populations.
He further called for establishing dialogue platforms to facilitate peace and reconciliation between herders and farmers, involving traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth, and women in hotspot areas.
SSDO also advocated for the creation of a Rural Crisis Recovery and Support Fund to assist families affected by the violence.
The fund, the organisation proposed, would provide burial assistance, trauma support, home rebuilding aid, and help to restore farmlands.
Lastly, Ilechukwu urged the Federal Government to launch a National Early Warning and Response System, building upon existing structures to digitally track security threats, respond quickly to local intelligence, and prevent future tragedies.
“Let this be the moment our nation chooses compassion, protection, and justice, not just for those in the cities, but for every mother in Aguamede Eha-Amufu, every father in Yelewata, and every child still afraid to return home,” the statement concluded.
