GOV UGWUANYI SHOCKS EKWEREMADU, IGWE’S AND ENUGU COMMUNITY WITH STATEMENT ON FULANI MASSACRE
This country is a total mess, and things
are getting worse by the day. Following the slaughter of 46 Ukpabi,
Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State natives last
Monday, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, on Friday while speaking in an
emotional laden tone during a news briefing at Government House attended
by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu,Deputy Governor, Cecila
Ezeilo, all serving senators and House of Representatives members in the
state.
The governor’s speech read in
part:”On Sunday, April 24, by 7 pm, the night before this carnage took
place, I got security information from Uzo-Uwani Local Government
Transition Chairman, Hon. Cornell Onwubuya that such an incident was
likely to take place in the state. I immediately summoned a meeting of
the State Security Council which commenced by 10 pm.
The meeting was attended by the
following: Garrison Commander, Brigadier General Olufemi Akinjobi who
normally represents the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division
Nigerian Army; the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Nwodibo Ekechukwu; the
State Director of Department State Security Services (DSS), Mr. M. Abdul
Malik; the State Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence
Corps, Mr. Lar Stephen; Representatives of the Nigerian Air force,
Federal Road Safety Corps and Nigerian Prison Services, who attended as
observers.
“From the side of government were,
myself, the Governor, the Deputy Governor, the Secretary to the State
Government, the Chief of Staff, the Chairman, State Traditional Rulers
Council and the Honourable Attorney General of the State. “In the
meeting, we received assurances from the Commissioner of Police that the
Area Commander of SARS was on ground in Nimbo. That the Anti-Terrorism
Unit was at Nimbo. That he was in contact with the Kogi State
Commissioner of Police and reported suspected herdsmen grouping at Odolu
in Kogi State preparatory for an attack on Nimbo and Abbi communities.
That Police mobile force and
conventional police were already drafted to Nimbo and Abbi communities.
That he was in touch with the Area Commander, Idah, ACP Ikegwuonwu and
had linked him with the Area Commander, Nsukka, ACP Monday Kuryas. Both
men according to the CP reported that there were no traces of suspected
herdsmen in Nsukka or Idah. “That he ordered the Area Commander, Nsukka
to redeploy to Nimbo.
That the Garrison Commander on his part assured
the meeting that Military was already deployed to Nimbo. Let me state
that the State Government provided logistics for these deployments.
After receiving these assurances of
deployments to Nimbo, I felt quite confident that we had done everything
possible to forestall an attack on Nimbo.” “I have deliberately
narrated what transpired at the Security Council meeting fully conscious
of the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution pertaining to my oath of
office.
I am doing this in due discharge of my duties as Governor.
“Sadly, in the early hours of Monday
reports of this carnage reached me. More disturbing was the report that
the attack of innocent and defenceless citizens were carried out at
about 6.30 am. Further reports available to me indicate that apart from
the killing and maiming of innocent and defenceless citizens of Nimbo, a
Church was also burnt. Following this development, I engaged the
security agencies in order to ensure that the Nimbo area was secured
from further attacks that might escalate the situation.
“I am at once, constituting a
judicial commission of inquiry to investigate the immediate and remote
causes of all the violent occurrences in the State associated with
suspected Fulani Herdsmen and recommend appropriate measures that will
be put in place to prevent future occurrence.
“What happened between 6.30am and
7.30 am on Monday 25th April, 2016 despite assurances from the Security
Agencies? Only the Security Agencies can answer this question”.
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