There is an air of helplessness in Enugu State after suspected Fulani cattle herders invaded a community, killing many and destroying property. Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi calls for a fast. OGOCHUKWU IKEJE and CHRIS OJI write
We came, saw and broke down. And there was something else Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi did: he called for statewide prayers accompanied with a two-day fast.
Why did the governor wax spiritual?
What happened on Monday in Ukpabi-Nimbo, Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of the state was bizarre. Hundreds of heavily-armed suspected Fulani herdsmen reportedly invaded the community and opened fire on anyone in sight. At the end of the attack, some 48 people were said to be killed, while houses and other structures were set ablaze.
When Governor Ugwuanyi inspected the community on Tuesday under heavy security, he chanced upon a freshly discovered corpse of an apparently well-fed young man killed in the attack. Ugwuanyi wept at the sight. He was also clearly moved by the sheer scale of bloodshed and destruction.
But could there be another reason the governor wept? Perhaps, it was because the bloodshed could have been prevented.
Ugwuanyi said he received some intelligence that the community was under imminent threat of attack, possibly on Monday, and immediately summoned a security meeting on Sunday. He added that “far-reaching decisions” were reached at the meeting to forestall the attack.
“A combined team of police, soldiers, Civil Defence operatives was dispatched to the community,” he said, “but on Monday we heard that they still carried out the threat, resulting in the situation we are facing.”
That probably explains the whiff of helplessness, which necessitated a spiritual approach to a growing menace playing out across the country.
“No matter what, we are hopeful that God will save us from the present situation,” Ugwuanyi said, seeking to assure the people. “That is why I’ve declared fasting and prayers in the state for the next two days.”
Much of the community was razed down in the attack.
The body that moved the governor to tears was that of Ugwu Ogbu, said to be a teacher posted to the community. Women were also raped by the invaders, The Nation learned.
The attackers reportedly got help from mercenaries in Nasarawa State.
Governor Ugwuanyi did much to reassure and calm Nimbo residents. He made a relief donation of N5m to the community. He also sought to direct the traumatised people’s attention to the ultimate source of comfort: heaven.
Ugwuanyi told them, “We are going to seek for God’s intervention in this matter. It is my belief that this too will pass away. The entire people of Enugu State are with you in this moment of grief.”
He assured the people that efforts were being made to find a lasting solution to the problem, urging young men not to take the law into their hands by engaging in any form of reprisal attack.
Some of the clergy were not as tame as the governor. Archbishop of Anglican Communion, Enugu Archdiocese, Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma warned that if nothing was done to check the herdsmen, he would personally ask pro-Biafra groups to declare war on them.
The fiery clergy was visibly angry over the Monday attack, saying it was now clear that the federal government controlled security agencies deliberately decided when to act and when to forbear.
The cleric also called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on Igbo land, adding that many hours after the attack, no arrest was made.
He warned that if the relevant authorities failed to curb the activities of Fulani herdsmen, the breeders would be banned from the Southeast. He added that should they enter, they would meet stiff opposition in the zone.
“I feel bitter, I feel aggrieved,” he said. “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.
“Failure to curb the activities of Fulani herdsmen will make us to ban [them] from rearing their cattle in the zone. Any attempt to harass any Igbo youth in 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. Government should speak out against this Fulani herdsmen menace.
“Failure for the Southeast governors to rise to the security challenge, we will pass vote of no confidence on 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 farmland, 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.”
Since the attack, Nimbo community has been deserted, meaning that economic activities have shut down, with obvious consequences on the people. Pupils seating the WAEC exams could not go to their centres. Most of those who sustained life-threatening injuries have been receiving treatment at various hospitals including Royal Cross hospital, Bishop Shanahan and Nsukka District hospitals.
One of the injured, a young man who just passed out of the NYSC programme earlier in the month has been referred to National Orthopaedic hospital Enugu, while two others were referred to Park Lane Hospital, Enugu.
The governor visited the Ukpabi Nibo community as well as the three hospitals where injured persons were receiving treatment. He was accompanied by Senator Chuka Utazi representing Enugu North senatorial zone, the GOC, 82 Division, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, the Police Commissioner, Nwodibo Ekechukwu among other security chieftains.
At the palace of the traditional ruler of Nimbo community, Igwe John Akor, the governor lamented the loss of life and property including the Christ Holy Church, which was burnt by the attackers.
One of the community leaders, Dr Ajokwu George appealed to the state government to come to their aid as their 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 the security that these people were planning to attack us but nothing was done. As we speak, we’ve recovered over 20 corpses and we are still recovering more. Several others are in the morgue and in the hospitals. What did we do to deserve this? We are really pleading that something be done. Our women have been raped and killed and nothing has happened.
“What has happened is just a tip of the iceberg because we know they will come again. The way they invade our community and rape women before their husbands is worrisome. We need security here not just for a day or week but for months to protect us.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ebere Amaraizu confirmed the incident, saying that a police team and the army had been deployed to the area.
The leader of Fulani community in the state, Alhaji Haldo Saidu Baso said he had lived in the state for over 33 years and would not want to witness any crisis between the ethnic groups. He resolved to talk to their people in the state not take the law into their hands.
Baso said: “We will travel to Nasarawa State to talk to the cattle owners and stakeholders to warn the rustlers in Enugu State to steer [clear of] trouble.”
