The governors of the south-east have expressed anger over the killings in Enugu
Governors of the five South East states of Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu
and Anambra are unhappy with the spate of killings in the zone by
Fulani herdsmen. They are demanding a meeting with President Mohammadu
Buhari over the issue, NewTelegraph reports.
It was gathered that the governors have flown to Abuja to seek an audience with the president.
The Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha has described the killing
as a national embarrassment. Although there have been isolated cases of
killings and brushes with farmers in the zone, the killing of over 30
people in Ukpabi-Nimbo community of Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of
Enugu State, on Monday, has rankled the governors. It was gathered that
the governors are in Abuja to lodge their displeasure and complaint to
the Federal Government.
It was also gathered that they want to make definite demands on the
presidency concerning the unchallenged impunities of Fulani herdsmen in
the region. While Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, (Enugu) and
Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) left for Abuja yesterday morning, David Umahi, the
Ebonyi State governor was said to have left Tuesday evening for Abuja.
It is not very clear the disposition of Governor Willy Obiano of Anambra State on the issue. “The
governors are evidently pained by the wanton killing campaigns of the
Fulani nomads and are sufficiently embarrassed and insulted by the fact
that in the face of such killings, the system renders them helpless and
unable to protect their citizens”, said an official of the Imo State government.
It was also gathered that the governors would lobby the state
Houses of Assembly to pass Bills outlawing grazing on farmlands and
formation of a regional taskforce against unlawful grazing.
The killings of over 40 Enugu farmers has resulted in a protests
and condemnations. The protesters marched from New Market through Okpara
Avenue, Holy Ghost Park, Edinburgh Street, the State House of Assembly,
ending at the Government House, Enugu.
Some of the placards read: “Stop the killings. No more human
blood for cows”, “Ndigbo are part of humanity, stop the herdsmen
massacre at Uzo-Uwani”, “stop killing Ndigbo, Fulani must go,
Gburugburu, wake up from your sleep”, “Stop the killing, Buhari sit up,
Fulani must go, Ugwuanyi speak up” and “Operation stay alive, leave Igbo alone”.
Spokesman of the group, Dr. McGinger Ibeneme, decried the incessant
destruction of farmlands; killings, rape and kidnapping of people of
the South East geopolitical zone by suspected Fulani herdsmen. “The
crux of the matter is that every day, people go to their sleep and
Fulani cattle herdsmen will come and slaughter them. Just few days ago,
over 200 people were massacred in their village in Uzo-Uwani. There has
never been any arrest; if anything, the Awgu indigenes were arrested for
chasing away the invaders. They had to bail themselves. Their women
were raped, their men abducted.
“We have heard about a Catholic priest being abducted; we have
heard about churches being burnt; we have heard about women being raped.
Every single day, day-by-day, lives are lost. The Federal Government
has refused to say anything; the presidency has been quiet over the
Fulani invaders."
Are the lives of their cows worth more than our lives? Why are they
killing us? Is it a crime to be a Nigerian? We just want answers. When
will the killings stop? Why hasn’t the president sent the army? Why
hasn’t the president deployed the intelligence?
Meanwhile, the South East Senate Caucus yesterday warned of
imminent dangers including possible threats to the unity of Nigeria if
the Federal Government failed to urgently address root causes of the
incessant massacre of innocent Nigerians by the armed Fulani herdsmen.
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