Last week, heavily armed herdsmen attacked the Ukpabi-Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, killing at least 48 people. Prior to the attack, the police were given ample warning by the state governor but apparently Mr Ekechukwu refused to act, saying he needed authorisation from the presidency.
Enugu State governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi personally rang Mr Ekechukwu several hours before the attack but his calls for police to be deployed to Ukpabi-Nimbo were ignored and while he was still on the phone the Fulani herdsmen struck. Under fierce criticism for failing to protect Nigerians, President Buhari has redeployed Mr Ekechukwu to another location outside the state.
Police spokesman Bisi Kolawole, said: “The Enugu State police commissioner has been posted out of the state to another command and a new boss Emmanuel Ojukwu, has taken over. The redeployment is part of strategies to improve police effectiveness across the country.”
Apparently, the police high command was said to have been angry about the fact that the villagers had informed the state police command about the impending attack but nothing was done to forestall the killings. Many Nigerians are also perplexed about the fact that the police authorities had to wait for instructions from the presidency before taking action against the herdsmen who were said to number 100.
Earlier this year in March, it was reported that 76 residents of Ugwuneshi autonomous community in the Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State, were arrested while attempting to rescue their wives captured by Fulani herdsmen. None of the cattle rearers, who were allegedly the aggressors, was arrested.
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