Enugu Killings: Ugwuanyi Demands Explanation from Army, Police, DSS

 

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State yesterday reviewed last Monday’s invasion of the agrarian community of Ukpabi Nimbo in Uzouwani local government area of the state by suspected Fulani herdsmen where scores of people were killed and stated that security agencies had a lot of explanation to make in view of the prior assurances to forestall the attack.

In a related development, the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase has declared that the current numerical strength of the Nigerian Police was far too inadequate to provide security to all Nigerians.

Addressing major stakeholders in the state including the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, members of the National and State Assemblies, council chairmen and members of the State Executive Council as well as PDP chieftains at the Government House, the governor said he was at a loss as to why the attack took place in the first place.

The governor who also gave an indication that he would constitute a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate the immediate and remote causes of all the violent occurrences in the state associated with suspected Fulani herdsmen and recommend appropriate measures that would be put in place to prevent future occurrence.

“What happened between 6.30am and 7.30 am on Monday 25th April, 2016 despite assurances from the security agencies? Only the security agencies can answer this question,” he fumed.

Going down memory lane, the governor explained: “Four days ago on Monday April 25, 2016, many of our brothers and sisters in Nimbo, Uzo Uwani Local Government Area of the state were murdered in cold blood by suspected Fulani herdsmen who have been grazing their cattle in that area for a while now.

 “On Sunday, 24, 2016, by 7 pm, the night before this carnage took place, I got security information from Uzo-Uwani Local Government’s Transition Chairman, Cornell Onwubuya that such an incident was likely to take place in the state. I immediately summoned a meeting of the State Security Council which commenced by 10pmwith all the security chiefs in the state present.

The Enugu State Director of the Department of State Security (Abdul Malik) was also at the emergency security meeting summoned by Ugwuanyi, a day before the attack.

The governor further explained that he had audience with President Muhammadu Buhari, noting that their discussion was frank and cordial.