OHANEZE Ndigbo has announced plans to set up a committee of inquiry to look into the Fulani herdsmen invasion of the Ukpabi-Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State that left 48 people dead last week.
Last Monday, Fulani herdsmen attacked Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State attracting widespread condemnation. It was one of the most gruesome attacks by Fulani herdsmen and follows on from what has been a recent pattern, with them attacking farming communities nationwide.
After emergency meeting in Enugu to debate the matter, socio-cultural Igbo body Ohaneze Ndigbo, said the attack on the Enugu community was barbaric and condemnable in all its ramifications. Some of the speakers at the meeting wondered why the southeast governors had not responded to the statement credited to 19 Northern governors on the attack, adding that Ndigbo were not comfortable with their continued silence on the security challenges facing the zone.
Last week, governors of Nigeria's 19 northern states hit back at those labelling Fulanis are criminals and murderers condemning the generalisation adding that kidnapping started in the southeast but that does not make all Igbos kidnappers. Although the governors condemned the recent attack in Enugu State and those that took part in other parts of the country, they condemned labelling the criminals as Fulani people.
An Ohaneze Ndigbo spokesman said: “What are the governors doing with their security votes? Let the governors set vigilante group in form of task force in each community, with a view to protecting our lives and property.”
Uchenna Madu, the leader of the Movement for Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra, appealed to Igbo elders to back the youth in repelling the Fulani herdsmen in Igboland, warning that Ndigbo would not remain refugees in their land because of the activities of invaders. He added that they are ready to fight force with force and will resist any attempt by any group or persons to make Ndigbo perpetual slaves in the country.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders from across the southeast also met yesterday in Enugu to discuss the matter. PDP governors, including Dr Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Dave Umahi of Ebonyi and Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu and the deputy senate president Senator Ike Ekweremadu, were in attendance.
They strongly condemned the Fulani herdsmen attack on Ukpabi-Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State and have resolved to visit the troubled area. Senator Ekweremadu said the governors would get their colleagues from Anambra, Chief Willy Obiano and Rochas Okorocha of Imo State to join them in the proposed visit to the community within the week.
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