ABIA STATE GOV IKPEAZU RAISES ALARM REACTS TO BUHARI’S DELAY IN FULANI MASSACRE

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, has warned that if no urgent and drastic measures were taken to curb the excesses of Fulani herdsmen killing and maiming local farmers across the country, Nigeria might soon be history.

Ikpeazu who was reacting to the recent attack of Ukpabi Nimbo community in Uzouwani Local Council of Enugu State by Fulani herdsmen that claimed over 40 lives, described the attack as very provocative and a threat to Nigeria’s peace and corporate existence.

The governor who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Godwin Adindu, strongly condemned the unwarranted attack and called on the Federal Government to rise to the occasion.

His words: “The Governor condemns the carnage and wanton destruction of human lives meted out to the defenceless people of Nimbo by the herdsmen and also condemns the excesses of the herdsmen across Nigeria, warning that the situation could degenerate into a national crisis if drastic measures are not taken by the Federal Government to checkmate the rampage.

“The herdsmen’s audacious killings and sacking of communities and farm¬lands constitute another national security chal¬lenge and a huge threat to the peace and unity of the country, stressing that the trend is a time-bomb waiting to explode.”

Ikpeazu expressed worry over how the security apparatus of the country had been treating the dangerous trend with kid gloves, “resulting in more invasion of communities by the herdsmen, from Agatu, through Ondo, Delta, to Benue and now Enugu.”

The governor further observed that the herdsmen could be another disguised form of terrorism and insurgency and called on President Muhammadu Buhari to nip this trend in the bud before it gets out of hand like Boko Haram.

He commiserated with the families who lost their loved ones in the midnight carnage and prayed God to give them the fortitude to bear the painful experience.

In a related development, a constitutional lawyer and human rights activist, Dr Anthony Agbazuere called on the Federal Govern¬ment, to as a matter of urgency, checkmate the im¬punity of Fulani herdsmen before “it is too late”.

He recalled that Boko Haram “started gradually this way while the govern¬ment of the day never took it seriously until it became a nightmare”.