The monarch said there was no truth whatsoever in the report, explaining that though soldiers keeping the peace had left the community, there was still a heavy presence of police personnel all over the community.
Also debunking the said reports, leaders of the Fulani community in Enugu State vowed that under no circumstance would any Fulani herdsman return to Nimbo after the killings that caused so much uproar in April.
Bala Ardo, secretary general of the group, was flanked by other leaders as he spoke to newsmen on Wednesday, adding that the leaders of the group have in the past few weeks been moving round communities, where their members were grazing with a view to creating platforms for dialogue and reconciliation where there is disagreement between them and their host communities.
Igwe Akor denied ever saying that the herdsmen were back to his community and said there had been no further threat to peace in the area since the last incident occurred.
He said he was surprised to read such reports in the media.
On his part, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Enugu State police command, DSP Ebere Amaraizu, also debunked the reports, saying that ever since the ugly attack on the community, there had been heavy presence of men of the command and that it was not possible in the present circumstance for the marauding herdsmen to return to the community under any guise not to talk of raping women.
He said the police had already started their investigation to get at the root of the reports by finding out those who fed the press with such false information and what their motives were.
In the statement by Amaraizu, he said “the Enugu State command of the Nigeria Police Force wishes to inform members of the public particularly good people of the state that its attention has been drawn to various malicious and misleading publications in some sections of the print media and wish to state as follows:
“That following the incident at Nimbo Community on 25th April, 2016, that the state command working in partnership with other security agencies, relevant stakeholders and the Government of the state have constantly ensured that live returns to the community as security operatives have been on ground since the ugly incident.
“That since after the incident, Nimbo community and its environs have been peaceful as business activities have resumed in its full capacity.
“That the story as presented by the writer could be seen as figment of his imagination as he could not exercise professionalism which demands that all the sides must be reached on the event of any issue to enable balance reportage as this also, would have enabled him to be in the picture of the state of things in Nimbo community.
“That probe into the publication revealed that it is not only false but baseless and aimed at underscoring the effort of the state government as well as that of the security agencies put in place to restore normalcy and to ensure that there is lasting peace not only in Nimbo but other communities in the state.
“The commissioner of police Cp Emmanuel Ojukwu who has severally visited the community and its environs to reassure them since assumption of duty in the state on receipt of the misleading report, quickly contacted his security operatives on duty at Nimbo community where he got a report that the area is still peaceful and that there is no trace of fulani herdsmen since after the ugly incident.
“The Area commander Nsukka Zone and the DPO Adani in charge of Nimbo also confirmed that there is no trace of herdsmen in the area since after the ugly incident of 25/4/16.
“Also contacted was the traditional ruler of Nimbo community HRH IGWE John Akor and the chairman of Uzouwani local Government Area Cornel Onwubuya who maintained that the area is peaceful and there has not been any trace of Fulani Herdsmen and their cattle since after the ugly incident and wondered why there should be such publication.
“However to ensure that things were not taking for granted, the heads of fulani/herdsmen communities were summoned to this effect and in his reaction, Bala Ardo the general secretary maintained that fulani herdsmen since after the incident at Nimbo have not gone to the area and its environs as he maintained that it will be morally wrong for them to go back to the area when the community is still nursing injuries of their lost ones.
“He openly stated that he is sure that his people cannot go there but assured; he has been working with the security agencies and Government with his fulani herdsmen leadership group to foster peace in the state.
“The state command based on this, have enjoined members of the public to be going about their normal lawful businesses and regard the publication as baseless and unfounded since there is no reported issue of such before the command nor trace of fulani herdsmen in Nimbo community as presented by the reporter.
“The command also viewed such publication as malicious and misleading as it is capable of generating tension, rancour, bitterness between people in the state.
“Members of the public with any useful information are also enjoined to report promptly to the law enforcement Agencies for appriopriate action rather than engaging themselves in rumours that are misleading and unfounded.
Also reacting to the situation in a statement, the chairman of Uzo-Uwani local Government Transition Committee, Mr. Conel Onwubuya, regretted the new insinuations on the Nimbo matter, saying it was totally false to report that the herdsmen were back to the area.
He recalled the current efforts his administration has been making and the all-round efforts of Governor Ifeanyi’s administration to ensure that the Nimbo killings would become the last of such crisis between herdsmen and communities in the state.
His statement read: “My attention has been drawn with utter dismay to the publications in sun and daily independent newspapers, alleging that Fulani herdsmen have returned to Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu state and raped no fewer than six women in the community. The publications also alleged that the herdsmen threatened to unleash more terror on the community.
“As the Chairman and Chief Security Officer of the Local Government Area, I wish to state categorically that the said publications are false, mischievous and targeted at undermining the successful efforts made by the present administration in Enugu State to resolve the Nimbo incident, amicably.
“It is on record that peace has returned to Nimbo since after the attack and the state government has taken all necessary measures to provide adequate security to protect the lives and property of the people of the area.
“I have equally taken the issue of Nimbo just like the Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, beyond official duties, and have been working closely with the people of Nimbo, Fulani community in the South-East zone, security agencies and the state government to ensure that such sad incident does not happen again.
“While we await the outcome of the ongoing Judicial Commission of Inquiry on the Nimbo killings, I wish to reassure the people of Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area and beyond of their safety. I also appeal to the public to eshew rumour mongery and go about their normal business, as there is no such attempt to unleash any further attack on Nimbo community.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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