OHANAEZE RAISES ALARM – REVEALS HOW FULANI MEN ARE PLANNING ANOTHER ATTACK

INDICATIONS emerged during the weekend, that Fulani herdsmen have regrouped in bushes on Iga community’s corridor, Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, to launch another attack, even as the apex socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, met yesterday in Enugu with a call on the Federal Government to boot out of office, all security heads in Enugu State over lapses that culminated in the slaughter of 46 Ukpabi, Nimbo natives last Monday by Fulani herdsmen.

Armed Fulani-herdsmen Armed Fulani-herdsmen A communique made available to Vanguard at the end of the meeting of Imeobi (highest decision organ) of the group, read in part: ”Imeobi expresses disappointment at the obvious security lapses which allowed these heinous acts to be committed in Nimbo community. “Imeobi, therefore, calls on Enugu State Government and the Federal Government to ensure that a thorough investigation is carried out with a view to ensuring that all those responsible for the lapses are made to account and be punished for their action. 

“Imeobi mandates Ohanaeze leadership to take all necessary actions to ensure that such incident never again occurs in any other part of the South-East geopolitical zone.

“Imeobi endorses the position of Ohanaeze on rejection of the proposed Grazing Bill. Cattle grazing is private business and, therefore, should not be done in a manner that individual’s or community’s rights are infringed upon. “Imeobi views with grave concern and unequivocally, condemns the recent slaughter by Fulani herdsmen of our defenceless kith and kin in Nimbo, Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State.”

Security agencies accept blame

Meanwhile, 48 hours after Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State accused security operatives in the state of being complicit, demanding explanation as to their whereabouts between 6.30 and 7.30a.m. last Monday, which gave the Fulani herdsmen a window to slaughter 46 natives of Ukpabi, Nimbo community, despite the assurances they gave him that they were on ground, none of the security agencies accused have come up with a response.

This was even as tension, weekend, enveloped Iga community, about 46 kilometrre from Nimbo in the same Uzo-Uwani council area, of another planned attack on the natives by herdsmen, who were said to be regrouping in bushes near the community’s corridor. Vanguard gathered that the natives have resorted to self-help, arming themselves to ward off impending threats, following perceived inaction from security operatives in neighbouring Nimbo community.
Herdsmen regroup for another attack

A dependable source told Vanguard, weekend, that the herdsmen had regrouped in bushes on Iga community’s corridor to launch another attack on the community. The source revealed that the herdsmen were emboldened from the high casualty rate recorded in last week’s attack that caught security operatives napping. Further investigation by Vanguard showed that a possible clash may be in the offing at Adani community, still in the same Uzo-Uwani council area, between the natives and a densely-populated Hausa community resident in the area.

The northerners, Vanguard gathered, bought parcels of land and built residential houses on them which has, over time, turned a Hausa community settlement at Adani. But following last Monday’s attack on Nimbo community, the Adani natives are said to be living in perpetual fear. The natives, it was learned, are united on driving away the Hausa community from their area, a situation that is generating tension.

MASSOB warns of more attacks

Also yesterday, principal officials of MASSOB executives rose from an emergency meeting in Okwe, MASSOB headquarters. It’s leader, Uchenna Madu, in communique made available to Vanguard, said: ”President Muhammadu Buhari’s sudden, pressurised U-turn and presidential order against Fulani’s herdsmen is a complete political jamboree which can never hold any water.

“It is a hypocritical exhibition meant to deceive the Igbo and Christians in general. “More coordinated military camouflaged pogroms is coming; it shall continue to be disguised as Fulani’s herdsmen, but the real men behind these pogroms are Islamic Arewa Army, ISAA, established to conquer, actualise the Islamic, political, economical, social command of Othman Dan Fodio, Ahmadu Bello, Sarduana of Sokoto, using the minority North (Middle Belt) to fight against the Christian South. “MASSOB warns that Ndigbo should hold their governors much responsible for any invasion of our land by foreigners.”

Ndigbo to stop buying Fulani cow In another development, the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, South-East youth wing, in a statement signed by the Chairman, Rev. Fr. Clement Okonkwo, and Ogechukwu Nnamene on behalf of the executives, and made available to Vanguard, condemned the killing of 46 Nimbo natives. It called on Ndigbo to shun buying cows to frustrate Fulani herdsmen out of Igboland. It said: “Igbo should stop buying cows from Fulani herdsmen as a source of meat. Ndigbo should rise to the occasion and patronise other sources of meat to frustrate their business and force them out of Igboland. 

“Traditional rulers, and community leaders in the South-East should, as a matter of urgency, constitute and arm vigilante groups in their villages and resist any attempt by the Fulani herdsmen to occupy their farmlands.”

 Ohanaeze youths, IPOB berate Northern govs

Similarly, Ohanaeze Youth Council, OYC, and Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, have berated the Northern governors over their position on the killings in Enugu by Fulani herdsmen. The Ohanaeze youths alleged that the stand taken by Northern governors points to a strong suspicion that the rampaging Fulani herdsmen were being sponsored by the governors.

In a statement, yesterday, OYC denounced the Northern governors for defending and exonerating the Fulani herdsmen on the rampant violent activities, including invasion and killing in communities, kidnapping and rape. OYC also gave a 48-hour ultimatum to the South-East governors “to fully reply their Northern counterparts or we will assume that they are cowards.” Signed by the National Vice President of OYC, Mazi Obinna Achonye; the Coordinator of Ohanaeze Youths in Niger Delta, Mr. Opurum Cheya; and the Rivers State Chairman of OYC, Bobby Ezemuonye, the statement said: “The careless statement from the Northern governors is an affront to Ndigbo.

“Instead of joining millions of sane minds across the globe in condemning the atrocities of the Fulani herdsmen, especially last week’s invasion of Enugu community, the governors were busy absolving the criminals of any wrong doing.” The indigenous people of Biafra, IPOB, while berating the 19 Northern governors, described them as the sponsors of the Fulani herdsmen. They said: “The statements by the so-called governors, who were elected to protect the lives and properties of the people, proves to the whole world that they are the sponsors of the new emerged terrorist group in disguise of Hausa Fulani herdsmen and cattle rearers.

“However, the massacre of our brothers and sisters by the Northern governors through their foot soldiers, Hausa-Fulani terrorist group in Biafra land, will not be in vain because Chukwu Okike Abiama (God Almighty) created us Biafrans.

“The Northern governors condemnation of the killing of our people in Agatu in Benue state, Uzo-Uwani, Enugu State and Delta State, after they had promoted those who committed the heinous crime, is hypocritical because it does not reflect the true character of people who respect the rule of law. “We, IPOB worldwide in a strong terms call the governors in Biafra land to read meaning into the statements made by their counterparts in the North. “This is because they have become nobody in the country their fathers fought vigorously for her independence.”