Buhari finally breaks deafening silence on Fulani herdsmen condemning Enugu massacre

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has finally broken his deafening silence on the ongoing menace or armed attacks by Fulani herdsmen across the country ordering law enforcement operatives to hunt down the perpetuators of these crimes.

 

Over recent months, the growing menace of Fulani herdsmen clashing with local communities over grazing rights has escalated frighteningly, often with bloody consequences. Things escalated dramatically on Monday when cattle rearers attacked the Ukpabi Nimbo community in Enugu State killing about 48 people.

 

An ethnic Fulani himself who also owns a farm where he rears cattle, President Buhari has kept mum over the growing attacks. He has come under fierce criticism for doing nothing to address the menace and following the Enugu massacre has been under pressure to address the nation on the matter.

 

Today, information minister Alhaji Lai Mohammed finally broke the silence on the issue at a book launch in Abuja where he said the president had ordered the perpetuators of the Enugu massacre to be arrested and brought to book. Speaking on behalf of the president at the launch of a book titled Who will love my country: Ideas for building the Nigeria of our dream, written by deputy senate president, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Alhaji Mohammed denied that President Buhari was not concerned about the menace.

 

Alhaji Mohammed said:  “Before making my remarks about the book, let me use this platform to condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the attack perpetrated on the Ukpabu Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani area of Enugu State on Monday. I deeply sympathise with all those who lost dear ones, as well as those who lost their properties, in the attack.

 

“I have directed the chief of defence staff and the inspector-general of police to secure all communities under attacks by herdsmen and to go after all the groups terrorising innocent people all over the country. This government will not allow these attacks to continue.”

 

President Buhari said that in writing the book, the author struck the right notes when he enjoined leaders to carry out programmes that will enhance the prosperity, happiness and living conditions of the citizens. He stressed the need for change in several areas, including attitudinal change, especially as it concerns corruption and impunity and the need for Nigerians to love their country.

 

“He, Senator Ekweremadu, demonstrated in the book that Nigerians can only build a Nigeria of their dreams if they make bold efforts to love her above their individual selves and narrow interests. Our mantra is change, starting with individual attitudinal change, which explains why this administration will soon launch a major campaign, tagged Change Begins With Me, aimed at getting Nigerians to realise that the change they so much desire starts with them," President Buhari added.

 

While endorsing the need to secure the social welfare of the people as encapsulated in the book, the president said it was in line with this that his administration designed the 2016 budget to bring millions of Nigerians out of poverty, enhance the living conditions of the citizens and put smiles on their faces. President Buhari challenged Nigerians to make bold efforts to love their country above their individual selves and narrow interests, saying anyone who puts his or her country over and above other interests will not engage in unbridled corruption, divert money meant for public use to private purposes or divert money for the national treasury into private pockets.