At least four persons have reportedly been hacked to death by suspected herdsmen in two villages in the Nimbo community, Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The incident reportedly took place around 2 am on Monday, July 26, when people were still asleep.

Several persons were said to be severely injured in the attack with about ten persons reported missing.

It was gathered that trouble started when herders were stopped from grazing their cattle in the farm settlement in the area on Sunday afternoon, leading to heated arguments between the farmers and the herders.

It was further learned the farmers later chased the herders and their cattle in order to avoid further destruction of their crops.

According to The Nation, the herders later re-grouped and launched a revenge attack on the community, killing no less than four persons in the early hours of Monday.

A village source, who identified himself simply as Stephen, told the publication that the villagers were still searching for about 10 people missings after the attack.

Stephen said: “Our people were in their houses Sunday afternoon when some people ran back to inform them that some herders came with their cattle to graze in their farm settlement. But our people went there to ask them to leave because they had already destroyed some crops in the farms.

“In the course of this interruption, a heated argument ensued that led our people to chase them away from the settlement. Remember that herdsmen killed our people in 2016 when they invaded this community. So, our people didn’t expect anything since they have left in peace.

“Unfortunately this morning they invaded the community and killed more than four people. The number could rise because we are still searching for 10 of our people. We also don’t know how many will survive in the hospital.”

Stephen disclosed three people who were seriously wounded have been taken to the hospital for medical treatment.