Anger Spreads Over Killings By Herdsmen

Vignettes from suspected herdsmen’s killings in Enugu community Image source: The Punch

*Governor in tears*Reps, Emir of Ilorin, Bishop, others outraged

There is anger across the country over killings by suspected Fulani herdsmen. The latest is the Monday night attack on an Enugu community where no fewer than 48 people are believed to have been killed.

The Nation report continues:

The House of Representatives has summoned the Director General of the Directorate of State Services (DSS) to appear before it over the herdsmen’s activities.

Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly Rita Maduagwu wept during a session on the herdsmen’s killings yesterday.

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu urged President Muhammadu Buhari to take action.

Minister of Agriculture Audu Ogbeh said unless a drastic action is taken, the activities of the herdsmen could destroy the nation.

The Igbo Assembly in the North called for a check of the violence. The Movement for the Actualization of Biafra (MASSOB) issued an ultimatum to the Federal Government.

The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Sulu Gambari, told visiting Vice President Yemi Osinbajo that a halt must be put to the activities of the herdsmen.

The Archbishop of Anglican Communion (Enugu Archdiocese) Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma, warned that if nothing was done to check the Fulani herdsmen, he would personally ask the pro-Biafra groups to declare a war against them.

The fiery cleric, who was visibly angry over Monday’s attack on an Enugu community, said it was now clear that the Federal Government controlled security agencies deliberately engaged in selective negligence.

He called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in Igboland.

The Archbishop was surprised that many hours after the attack, no arrest had been made.

The cleric insisted that Fulani herdsmen were more violent than the pro-Biafra agitators and called on Southeast governors to rise up to the security challenge.

“I feel bitter, I feel aggrieved. I feel sad that the APC government at the centre cannot protect us. We call on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in Igbo land over the Fulani herdsmen’s threat to security in the zone or else we will declare war against the Fulani herdsmen.

“I feel sad that APC government at the centre cannot protect us. Failure to curb the activities of Fulani herdsmen will make us to ban the Fulani herdsmen from rearing their cattle in the zone. Any attempt to harass any Igbo youth, any community will not be taken lightly. We will not tolerate it in Igbo land. We are declaring war against the Fulani herdsmen. We are calling on Northern elders to caution their people.

“With the failure of the Southeast governors to rise to the security challenge, we will pass a vote of no confidence in them. Where did the Fulani herdsmen get the AK 47 rifles? We will bring our own Ogbunigwe out to defend our rights. We will match force with force.

“Fulani herdsmen come to Igbo land, ravage our farm land, rape our women. That we were defeated in the last civil war does not mean we will remain slaves forever even in our land. We will defend our land with our blood and anything, including Ogbunigwe. Why was there security lapse? The DSS and other security operatives alerted the government yet they went ahead with their threat by unleashing mayhem on the villagers. The Fulani herdsmen are more violent than the Biafra agitator” he said.

The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) said it will now apply force in the defence of “our people from these sacred cow Fulani herdsmen”.

The pro-Biafran group put the number of the dead at 130 and accused the police of playing down the number.

A statement signed by the MASSOB Director of Information Samuel Edeson said Monday’s attack was an ethnic cleansing planned years back in 2003.

The MASSOB statement said: “We condemn the attack on by Fulani herdsmen at Uzo-uwani L.G.A Enugu State. We wish to remind Ndigbo that this killing and destruction of property of our people by Fulani herdsmen is getting out of hands. The fact that MASSOB believes in non- violence does not mean that we cannot defend ourselves. There is a limit to human endurance.”

MASSOB’s National Director of Information Sunny Okereafor said the organization has given a 30-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to stop the attacks by herdsmen or face its consequences.

He said: “MASSOB is worried that Fulani herdsmen have become very daring in their attacks since President Buhari came to power. We are not saying Buhari is their sponsor, but his silence over the attacks is suspect. MASSOB is giving the government 30 days to stop the attacks or face our wrath.

Unease Over Herders’ Attacks

Fulani Herdsman

Daily Trust reports that the House of Representatives yesterday summoned the Director General of the Department of State Security (DSS) Lawal Daura as concerns mount over alleged herdsmen attacks in some parts of the country.

In Ilorin, the emir, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, said that the crisis was a threat to national security, and that the perpetrators were non Nigerians.

The national association of Fulani herdsmen also denied yesterday that their members were behind the attacks.

The House resolution on the matter was sequel to a motion by Rep Chukwuemeka Ujam (PDP, Enugu) who said unknown herdsmen launched an attack on a rural community in Enugu state, in which many people were killed and property worth millions of naira destroyed.

The motion asked Daura to appear before its committees on police affairs, national intelligence and public safety to explain the measures put in place by the DSS to contain and prevent further attacks by the alleged herdsmen.

The House also urged the Inspector-General of Police Solomon Arase to conduct an investigation into the crisis with a view to bringing the perpetrators to book.

Contributing, Rep Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (PDP, Abia), said “The gory tales of incessant attacks” by alleged herdsmen were gradually “assuming a frightening national security challenge.”
She said the Enugu killings called to question the effectiveness of intelligence gathering, proactive policing and combat readiness of Nigeria’s security formations.

However, Rep Aminu Shehu Shagari (APC, Sokoto) said as much as the herdsmen attacks were disturbing,   most of the attackers were not Nigerian Fulani herdsmen.
“The situation we’re having is that some foreigners invaded the whole of the country. Those Fulani you see are not Nigerians. The Nigerian Fulani are very peaceful.

“What we’re witnessing is due to the porous nature of the Nigerian borders. I want to call on security agencies to strengthen their work at the borders,” he said.

Crisis threat to national security - Emir

The Emir of Ilorin, while speaking during the visit of the vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, to his palace warned that the crisis was a threat to the existence of Nigeria as an entity.

He noted that the government should be more serious in dealing with the incessant attacks.
The Emir, said the herdsmen were not Nigerians, adding that they are migrating herdsmen from other parts of Africa.

“People get it wrong when they describe the rampaging and destructive herdsmen as Fulani herdsmen. They are not Fulani. They are wandering and migrating tribe of people going everywhere,” he said.

Alhaji Sulu-Gambari, who thanked God for the victory that brought the APC into power and the achievements recorded by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, told the vice president that much was still being expected of the administration by the people.

The vice president, who commended the people of the state for the support given during the last general elections, said the government was determined to better the lives of all Nigerians.

Gov weeps over invasion as NBA knocks

Enugu State Governor, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, wept openly yesterday when he saw the body of one Ugwu Ogbu, a teacher posted from Enugu Ezike in Igboeze North LGA of the state to Nimbo community where he killed in Monday’s attack on the community by people suspected to be herdsmen.

He urged the people of the state to pray for God’s intervention in the clashes between herdsmen and villagers, even as he declared two days of fasting and prayers over the invasions.
Ugwuanyi donated ₦5million to people of the area for immediate relief as all economic activities were totally disrupted.

The governor also visited the traditional ruler of Nimbo community, Chief John Akor and assured   the people that efforts were being made to find a lasting solution to the problem. He appealed to the people, especially the youth, not to take the law into their hands by engaging in any form of reprisal.

A community leader, Dr Ajokwu George, appealed to the state government to come to their aid as the community had become a hunting ground for the herders.

“Our community is under threat; we have been burying our loved ones. We are more worried because in this case, we even alerted security agencies that these people were planning to attack us but nothing was done,” he said.

Archbishop calls for quick action

The Archbishop of Enugu Diocese, Anglican Communion, Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma, has warned that the frequent attacks across Nigeria by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen, had the potential to cause another civil war if not handled urgently,
Archbishop Chukwuma called on President Muhammadu Buhari to act quickly to tame the herdsmen.

He said: “One is wondering therefore what the federal government is doing about these Fulani herdsmen that have become a menace in the whole country.

“We totally condemn this act; it is condemned, unacceptable and we say the federal government must speak and do something about it or else, this is calling and breeding for civil war,” the cleric said.

He spoke at a press conference in Enugu yesterday while reacting to the attack on Nimbo community in which about 15 people were said to have been killed, houses and two churches destroyed.
Archbishop Chukwuma also appealed to the governors of the five states in the south-east zone to quickly rise to the occasion by finding a lasting solution before the situation becomes uncontrollable.