Afenifere lashes out at northern governors over their flippant response to Enugu massacre

YORUBA socio-cultural association Afenifere has lashed out at the governors of Nigeria's 19 northern states for belittling the recent attack by Fulani herdsmen in Enugu State by claiming that it was just the work of common criminals.

 

Last Monday about 48 people were massacred by marauding Fulani herdsmen in Enugu State when the Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area was attacked and ransacked. It has attracted widespread condemnation with the federal government urged to do something to address the menace of the Fulani herdsmen who are now feared to be more ruthless than Boko Haram.

 

In response, the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) met in Kaduna and called on the media to stop branding all Fulanis as murderers, saying the attacks were just the handiwork of a few bad eggs. 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. 

 

Incensed by what it sees as a very flippant and casual response to the crisis by the NSGF, Afenifere asked the governors to bury their heads in shame over their position. Like other community groups across the country, Afenifere said the governors failed to address the main issue which was the killing of innocent people.

 

Afenifere publicity secretary Yinka Odumakin, said: “The northern governors’ position is  a sign of an unfeeling and uncaring group. For them to come out today and say that those who have been causing problems and killing people in the Middle Belt and the south are not Fulani herdsmen is unacceptable.

 

"They have killed in Agatuland and in Enugu and a traditional ruler was killed in Delta State, while they also killed Chief Olu Falae’s guard and kidnapped Chief Falae himself. For some people to gather and call themselves northern governors and have no sympathy for lives than to be defending the Fulani herdsmen, shows clearly that it is a tragedy of monumental proportion to be in the same country with these elements. "

 

He added that the governors' stance makes one begin to wonder if the blood of human beings runs in their veins because anybody that has human blood running in his veins will not come and say that Fulani herdsmen are not responsible. Mr Odumakin added that he does not think they are fit to be in the comity of civilised human beings.

 

Also, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) described the northern governors’ position as an affront on other nationalities in Nigeria. IYC spokesman Eric Omare, said the governors' stance was disappointing and a tacit support for criminality and Fulani herdsmen pillaging of their host communities.