Life has begun to return to Nimbo community in Enugu State after its residents fled the area following the killing of 11 residents by suspected herdsmen.

Its president general, Chief Matthias Ekere, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Nimbo, Uzo Uwani Council.

Ekere said some of those that fled at the wake of the incident had begun to return, adding that people have begun to move about everywhere doing their businesses.

He, however, said the whereabouts of many were still unknown.

Also, most of the people were yet to get over the shock and trauma from by the killing of their kiths and kin, even as Ekere urged those still outside to come back.

He said life had never remained the same, as most of the returnees had found it difficult to feed their families and take care of their other needs.

The community leader said the relief materials donated by the town union for the affected families had finished and appealled to philanthropists and others that had pledged one form of assistance or another to redeem them.

He commended the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka for the pledge it made to assist victims and their families for a long time to come.

Meanwhile, members of the commission of inquiry set up by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi visited Nimbo recently.

The commission, led by its chairman, Justice Chukwuma Eneh (rtd), inspected the parsonage of the Christ Holy Church International, which was completely razed down.

The cleric in-charge of the church, Rev. Samuel Chukwuma, narrated to the team how he and other members of his family escaped death.

“We had just finished our morning prayers when the assailants invaded our house. They locked us up, set the house ablaze and waited outside for the house to into ashes.

“I prostrated and prayed to God to save us. While we were inside and the house was burning, another pastor in the neighbourhood, who saw the smoke, came to see what was happening.

“When the assailants who were still waiting outside saw the pastor, they ran after him and that was how we were able to force ourselves out and survived,” he said.

Chukwuma said he lost his brand new jeep to the fire, adding: “I lost everything. Even this cloth I am wearing someone gave it to me.”

Another resident of the community, Mr. Ngama Benjamin, told members of the commission that his Toyota Hiace bus, which he volunteered to transport people out of the community during the attack, was burnt.

“When the suspected herdsmen saw the bus moving, they ran after it and shot at it.

“Unfortunately, they overtook the bus, killed the unfortunate ones who could not run, and set the bus ablaze,” Benjamin recalled.