Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi wept yesterday during his visit to Ukpabi Nimbo in Uzouwani Local Government Area where suspected herdsmen on Monday killed no fewer than 48 people and destroyed property worth millions of naira. The police said six people died.
The governor could not hold back tears when he saw a freshly discovered body of a victim of the killings.
The community painted a gory picture of the activities of the herdsmen. Its leader said: “We alerted that they were coming. They came, killed our people and raped our women.”
Ugwuanyi, who also visited the injured in the hospitals, declared a two-day fast and prayers for God’s intervention to end the herdsmen’s menace.
The body was that of Ugwu Ogbu, believed to be a teacher from Enugu Ezike in Igboeze North council. He was posted to the Nimbo community. It was recovered in the morning by the villagers.
Ugwuanyi donated N5 million as immediate relief to the area where economic activities were totally shut down.
Members of the community have deserted the area. Pupils have abandoned the ongoing West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASCE).
Most of those who sustained life-threatening injuries are receiving treatments at various hospitals, including the Royal Cross Hospital, Bishop Shanahan and Nsukka District hospitals.
One of the injured, a young man who passed out of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme this month, has been referred to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu. Two others were referred to Park Lane hospital Enugu.
The governor was at the Ukpabi Nibo community and the three hospitals. With him were Senator Chuka Utazi( Enugu North), the GOC, 82 Division, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, Police Commissioner Nwodibo Ekechukwu and other security chiefs. He promised to pick the hospital bills of the injured.
“We are going to seek for God’s intervention in this matter. It is my belief that this too will pass away. The entire people of Enugu State are with you in this moment of grief,” Ugwuanyi told the people.
The governor explained that upon receipt of the report that there were plans to attack the community by the herders said to be from Nasarawa State, an emergency Security Council meeting was summoned on Sunday and “far reaching decisions” were taken to ensure that lives and property were protected.
“A combined team of police, soldiers, Civil Defence operatives was despatched to the community, but on Monday, we heard that they still carried out the threat, resulting in the situation we are facing. No matter what, we are hopeful that God will save us from the present situation; that’s why I’ve declared fasting and prayers in the state for the next two days,” he told the people.
Ugwuanyi who also visited the traditional ruler of Nimbo community, Igwe John Akor, lamented the loss of lives and destruction of property including the Christ Holy Church, Onueke Nimbo, which was burnt by the attackers.
He sued for peace and assured the people that efforts were being made to find a lasting solution to the problem. He urged the people, especially the youth, not to take laws into their hands by engaging in any form of reprisal.
A community leader, Dr Ajokwu George, appealed to the government to come to their aid as their community has become a hunting ground for herders.
“We are not happy because our community is under threat; we have been burying our loved ones. We are more worried because in this case, we even alerted the security that these people were planning to attack us but nothing was done. As we speak, we’ve recovered over 20 bodies and we are still recovering more. Many others are in the morgue and in the hospitals. What did we do to deserve this? We are really pleading that something should be done. Our women have been raped and killed and nothing has happened.
“What has happened is just a tip of the iceberg because we know they will come again. The way they invade our community and rape women before their husbands is worrisome. We need security here, not just for a day or week but for months to protect us. We thank you for coming to empathise with us and we want you to deliver our people from this problem,” George said. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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My people, this is not the time to be fasting and praying. This is the time to build bigger OJUKWU BUCKET and wait for this terrorist. Buhari and FG are quiet because the Fulani herdsmen are doing the killing not the citizens or the Igbos. A word is enough for the wise.
ReplyDeleteNo time to look time talk less of time, My people please wake up and protect yourselves, this no be time for prayer and fasting oooo. I beg una make the youth wake up.
ReplyDeleteMy dear it is. When you sense oppression by those who are supposed to take care of you and as such are more powerful, you need God to step in before ever thinking of what else to do.
DeleteBunch of gutless cowards. People are coming to kill your men and rape your women (aka ethnic cleansing) and your main reaction is to cry and wail and shiver and hide. Not one mention of defense, resistance or retaliation. A word is enough for the wise.
ReplyDeleteIbos in Enugu Continue to cry out that Fulani kills your people every time. And this is happening in your place. Are your hands and leg tied down? Don't you know the type of govt we have? Please stop this crys and get up for serious business. Do they know your terrain better than you? Are you expecting Buhari and his men to fight back for you, oh! we are praying that God will come from heaven a fight for us, yes it will happen but not now. We must get up and contained with this Boko Haram that has unfortunately turned to Fulani herdsman.
ReplyDeleteWe are tired hearing this absurd and will not continue in this way.
Pls what could they gave used at that point to fight a against an army with sophisticated weapons? Clubs and sticks?
DeleteIn as much as i dont see this as ethnic war; there is a big question mark hanging on the government of today and its law enforcement agent. There was a prior information that the Fulanis herdsmen will attack Enugu few days earlier. Why did the government and Law enforcement did not act on the information to protect human life and properties. This is a country that i see that place no value on human lives. The Fulanis are not Ghosts, Laws they said should not be taken into ones hand. In this case however, self defence is of essence before we get to the point of another Boko Haram near massacre. Enugu Share boundary with Benue, if truly the government is working in Benue based on what happened to the Agatus from these same Fulani herdsmen, it should be spread to neighbouring state too. A word is enough for the wise!
ReplyDeleteIs good to fast and pray but be alert and fight back. fulanis are part of boko haram and the goverment failed to admit.to it. only the fulanis kills and get away with it.that why the agatu people drove all the fulanis in there areas because of their evil agenders.
ReplyDeleteSiddown there they wait for the government.u better protect yourselves and send them back in a body bag
ReplyDeleteIgbos why una dey dull like this? For your domain nawah oo
ReplyDeleteIt is high time to send all the fulanies to go back to where ever they come from, u can remember that how boko haram start, it was like islamic sect before u know it it turned to boko haram and become stronger than the country to handle, funlnies has started, very soon the will spread to all ibo land and chane their name to something else but I warn not to get to imo state otherwise there will be war against ibo and house, the second biafra will then start. My candid advice to Enugu people is, as u pray, stand ur grand and fight for ur self,God will only defend u through ur effort, don't go inside ur house and say u are fasting and praying, by the time u raise ur arms to fight God will come to ur rescue u like he did for the people of israelise, because u are fighting for justice. A word is enough for a wise!
ReplyDeleteUnknown:
ReplyDeleteWhy are you crying? For Ojukwu to come and fight for you, for Buhari to come and save you. Shit !!! it is now your turn to defend yourself. Did you not hear of Ojukwu bucket, Gowon bucket, Ogbunigwe? Did you not hear of Awka blacksmiths. Organise your selves and finish them in their next attempt. Forget their type of guns and get superior weapons. if you cannot do this better CUT OFF THAT thing dangling in between your legs and wear skirt and blouse. Then we know you are women.