Romanus
Ugwu, a farmer in the community, said: “The Fulani herdsmen were grazing right
inside our compounds where we reside last, Tuesday. Their cows numbered over
100. The women and children on noticing their presence, quickly rushed and rang
the metal gong at the village square. “The sound emanating from the metal gong
caused the cattle to scamper in disarray. The herdsmen were infuriated by the
action of the women and children. They told the women and children that they
would invade them that night. “True to their words, they struck at about
2.15am. The herdsmen climbed the ceiling of the rented house where the
seminarian resided, jumped down and unlocked the metal door leading to the
parlour. “They now surged in and attacked Ogbodo Nwarum’s family, whose house
the seminarian was a tenant.
They used a machete to slaughter the seminarian
and slit open the pregnant woman’s tummy. Three other family members were
seriously injured in the operation that lasted over two hours. Most of us
scampered for safety with our children.” Ugwuanyi summons emergency security
meeting Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, who was one of the early
mourners to the community, said while addressing the people: “I received the
report of an attack by suspected Fulani herdsmen this morning (yesterday)
during which a seminarian was killed and four others injured and are in
hospitals at the moment. “I hasten to condemn this act in its entirety, for
government cannot tolerate the destruction of property and lives by any group
under any guise.
I have already summoned a meeting of Fulani community and
security agencies in the state to review the situation and determine
appropriate action to be taken. “It is unfortunate that this incident is coming
just days after the commission of inquiry set up to look into the killing at
Nimbo submitted an interim report. I wish to, on behalf of the state
government, express our sympathy to this community. “I assure them that
government will do everything to ensure that the culprits are apprehended and
brought to book. Government will cater for those in the hospitals. I want to
reassure the citizens in the state of governments’ unwavering efforts to ensure
that security of lives and property is maintained in every corner of the
state.” Enugu Cathloic bishop cries out Crest fallen Bishop of Enugu Diocese,
Most Rev. Callistus Onaga, appealed to the Federal Government to restructure
the security architecture in the country, especially in the South East
geopolitical zone to battle the growing insecurity challenges plaguing the
region.
“We appeal to our Fulani brothers to extend the same hand of brotherly
love which our people have extended to them by accommodating them in our
communities,” he aid. Traditional ruler at a loss Traditional ruler of Attakwu,
Igwe Greg Ugwu, said: “It is a sad development in the community because we
cannot point to what warranted these killings and attacks on hapless natives in
their ancestral home. “This incident happened at about 2.15am.
What would
Fulani herdsmen be doing at about this ungodly hour? Their cows were grazing in
people’s residential compounds and their offence was that they rang the metal
gong to scare the cows away from their compound.” Black Thursday Caretaker
Chairman of Nkanu-West Local Government Area, Afam Okereke, described the act
on the community as a “Black Thursday.” He said: “I am shocked. It is black
Thursday for us. Despite security meetings we have been holding, I requested
that all the Fulani members in this community submit their names. The list
until now, has not been submitted. The essence of the list is for us to know
who is who.
“The seminarian just finished his pastoral work last Tuesday.
Fulani herdsmen went and killed him in his house where he was a tenant. “There
was no quarrel. Just that the natives chased their cows away from their
compounds by sounding the metal gong.” Reacting to the incident, Deputy Senate
President, Ike Ekweremadu, condemned it in very strong terms, saying the
incessant attacks on parts of the country by suspected herdsmen posed a grave
threat to the peace, security, and economy of the country and called on the Federal
Government to take decisive steps to put a full stop to the ugly incidents.
Source:Vanguard
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