Herdsmen attack: Civil society groups stage protest in Enugu

By Emmanuel Uzodinma on May 3, 2016

No fewer than 13 civil society groups stormed Enugu State on Tuesday protesting the killing several indigenes of Nimbo community in Enugu State by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
Speaking while addressing them at the Government House, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State announced that internally displaced camp (IDP) would be set up at Ukpabi-Nimbo very shortly to cater for those who abandoned their homes at the wake of the invasion.
Addressing the protesters, Governor Ugwuanyi narrated how every effort he made to forestall the herdsmen attack were frustrated by security agents.

He consoled the women and people of Nimbo and appealed to those who ran away for dear lives to return as government was about to set up IDP camp for them.

He also announced that the government and all the Bishops in the state would be holding prayers at Nimbo on Thursday to pray for God’s intervention and return of peace.
Governor Ugwuanyi expressed gratitude to God that Ukpabi-Nimbo killings were attracting the attention of the entire country and the world at large, saying that it means there will be concerted effort to find solution to the menace.
Earlier in a statement jointly signed by the groups which they handed over to the governor, the spokesperson, Mrs. Joy Onyeso said the 13 NGOs decided on the protest after their meeting in Enugu.
“We strongly condemn the killings, rape, abductions and maiming of our people in vilnerable communities in recent past, especially the killings on April 25th at Nimbo Community of Uzo-Uwani LGA that claimed several lives.

“We strongly condemn security agencies who despite early signs failed the law abiding citizens they were supposed to protect”.
The groups include Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom Nigeria (WILPF), Forum for Promotion of National Ethos and Values (FPNEV), Women Aid Collective Enugu (WACOL) and J. C. Ibekaku Hope Project (JCIHP).
Others are: Women in Peace building network (WINET), Federation of Muslim Women Association Nigeria (FOMWAN), Civil Resource Development and Documentation Centre (CIRDDOC), FIDA, NAWOJ and CWO.

Massive protest in Enugu over Fulani herdsmen attack Nomso Obiajuru 5 hours ago 93989 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Send email – Residents of Enugu take to the streets to protest killings of villagers in Ukpabi Nimbo – The protesters, marched from New Market through Okpara Avenue, Holy Ghost Park, Edinburgh Street, to the state House of Assembly and ended at the government House Enugu Reactions have continued to trail the killing of scores of Enugu locals by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Ukpabi Nimbo, Uzo-Uwani local government. The attack, which left scores dead, properties worth millions of naira destroyed, hundreds displaced and many others battling for survival at various hospitals, has remained point of national discourse. Following the killings, residents of Enugu state took to the streets today, May 3, to stage a massive protest, Daily Post reports. It was gathered that a group under the aegis of Concerned Citizens of Enugu state, moved to the streets, demanding an end to the killings. READ ALSO: Photos of Enugu locals after herdsmen attack will make you sad The protesters, marched from New Market through Okpara Avenue, Holy Ghost Park, Edinburgh Street, to the state House of Assembly and ended at the government House Enugu. Dr. McGinger Ibeneme, the spokesman of the group, decried the incessant destruction of farmlands, killings, rape and kidnapping of people of the Southeast geopolitical zone by suspected Fulani herdsmen. Ibeneme said: “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. Nobody has said their crime, there has never been any arrest; if a

Read more: https://www.naij.com/818284-fulani-herdsmen-attack-something-big-happening-enugu.htmlMassive protest in Enugu over Fulani herdsmen attack Nomso Obiajuru 5 hours ago 93989 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Send email – Residents of Enugu take to the streets to protest killings of villagers in Ukpabi Nimbo – The protesters, marched from New Market through Okpara Avenue, Holy Ghost Park, Edinburgh Street, to the state House of Assembly and ended at the government House Enugu Reactions have continued to trail the killing of scores of Enugu locals by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Ukpabi Nimbo, Uzo-Uwani local government. The attack, which left scores dead, properties worth millions of naira destroyed, hundreds displaced and many others battling for survival at various hospitals, has remained point of national discourse. Following the killings, residents of Enugu state took to the streets today, May 3, to stage a massive protest, Daily Post reports. It was gathered that a group under the aegis of Concerned Citizens of Enugu state, moved to the streets, demanding an end to the killings. READ ALSO: Photos of Enugu locals after herdsmen attack will make you sad The protesters, marched from New Market through Okpara Avenue, Holy Ghost Park, Edinburgh Street, to the state House of Assembly and ended at the government House Enugu. Dr. McGinger Ibeneme, the spokesman of the group, decried the incessant destruction of farmlands, killings, rape and kidnapping of people of the Southeast geopolitical zone by suspected Fulani herdsmen. Ibeneme said: “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. Nobody has said their crime, there has never been any arrest; if anything, the Agwu indigenes were arrested for chasing away the invaders. They had to bail themselves. Their women were raped, men being 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. Are 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? “They call them hoodlums, who are the hoodlums? Do the hoodlums have an army, that they invade a village and kill in hundreds? Were the Nigerian police asleep? Has there been any arrests? “My appeal to the people is to open their eyes, to be alert, to be vigilant, to protect themselves against the invaders as the government can no longer protect us. It’s only a tree that will hear that it will die and it stays put. We are human beings; we have to shout for the whole world to hear us. “The genocide is going on. There is a systematic killing of our people. After the massacre the government will now send the police to come and calm us down so that there will not be reprisals. We are dying in our numbers.” READ ALSO: Photos: Police lament poor treatment in Enugu community On Monday, April 25, scores of Enugu locals, mostly farmers, lost their lives as Fulani herdsmen wreaked havoc in Ukpabi Nimbo community. According to villagers, they were abandoned even after they alerted security agencies on the plan to attack them. However, the police denied this claim, saying they didn’t get intelligent reports and accurate facts from the villagers.

Read more: https://www.naij.com/818284-fulani-herdsmen-attack-something-big-happening-enugu.htmlMassive protest in Enugu over Fulani herdsmen attack Nomso Obiajuru 5 hours ago 93989 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Send email – Residents of Enugu take to the streets to protest killings of villagers in Ukpabi Nimbo – The protesters, marched from New Market through Okpara Avenue, Holy Ghost Park, Edinburgh Street, to the state House of Assembly and ended at the government House Enugu Reactions have continued to trail the killing of scores of Enugu locals by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Ukpabi Nimbo, Uzo-Uwani local government. The attack, which left scores dead, properties worth millions of naira destroyed, hundreds displaced and many others battling for survival at various hospitals, has remained point of national discourse. Following the killings, residents of Enugu state took to the streets today, May 3, to stage a massive protest, Daily Post reports. It was gathered that a group under the aegis of Concerned Citizens of Enugu state, moved to the streets, demanding an end to the killings. READ ALSO: Photos of Enugu locals after herdsmen attack will make you sad The protesters, marched from New Market through Okpara Avenue, Holy Ghost Park, Edinburgh Street, to the state House of Assembly and ended at the government House Enugu. Dr. McGinger Ibeneme, the spokesman of the group, decried the incessant destruction of farmlands, killings, rape and kidnapping of people of the Southeast geopolitical zone by suspected Fulani herdsmen. Ibeneme said: “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. Nobody has said their crime, there has never been any arrest; if anything, the Agwu indigenes were arrested for chasing away the invaders. They had to bail themselves. Their women were raped, men being 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. Are 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? “They call them hoodlums, who are the hoodlums? Do the hoodlums have an army, that they invade a village and kill in hundreds? Were the Nigerian police asleep? Has there been any arrests? “My appeal to the people is to open their eyes, to be alert, to be vigilant, to protect themselves against the invaders as the government can no longer protect us. It’s only a tree that will hear that it will die and it stays put. We are human beings; we have to shout for the whole world to hear us. “The genocide is going on. There is a systematic killing of our people. After the massacre the government will now send the police to come and calm us down so that there will not be reprisals. We are dying in our numbers.” READ ALSO: Photos: Police lament poor treatment in Enugu community On Monday, April 25, scores of Enugu locals, mostly farmers, lost their lives as Fulani herdsmen wreaked havoc in Ukpabi Nimbo community. According to villagers, they were abandoned even after they alerted security agencies on the plan to attack them. However, the police denied this claim, saying they didn’t get intelligent reports and accurate facts from the villagers.
Read more: https://www.naij.com/818284-fulani-herdsmen-attack-something-big-happening-enugu.html