Highlights of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s Press Conference on The Recent Attack on Nimbo Community in Uzo Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State by Suspected Herdsmen.
Thank you and God bless you.
Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi
Governor, Enugu State pic.twitter.com/ZbXNGiaf8i— #VoteAndStay (@voteandstay) April 30, 2016
On Sunday, April 24, 2016, by 7 pm, the night before this carnage took place, I got security information from Uzo-Uwani Local Government Transition Chairman, Hon. 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 10 pm.
The meeting was attended by the following:
1. Garrison Commander Brigadier General Olufemi Akinjobi who normally represents the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division Nigerian Army
2. The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Nwodibo Ekechukwu
3. The State Director of Department State Security Services (DSS), Mr. M. Abdul Malik
4. The State Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr. Lar Stephen
5. Representatives of the Nigerian Air force, Federal Road Safety Corps and Nigerian Prison Services, who attended as observers.
In the meeting, we received assurances from the Commissioner of Police that the Area Commander of SARS was on ground in Nimbo.
-That the Anti-Terrorism Unit was at Nimbo
– That he was in contact with the Kogi State Commissioner of Police and reported suspected herdsmen grouping at Odolu in Kogi State preparatory for an attack on Nimbo and Abbi communities
– That Police mobile force and conventional police were already drafted to Nimbo and Abbi communities.
– That he was in touch with the Area Commander, Idah, ACP Ikegwuonwu and had linked him with the Area Commander, Nsukka, ACP Monday Kuryas.
Both men according to the CP reported that there were no traces of suspected herdsmen in Nsukka or Idah.
-That he ordered the Area Commander, Nsukka to redeploy to Nimbo.
-That the Garrison Commander on his part assured the meeting that Military was already deployed to Nimbo.
Let me state that the State Government provided logistics for these deployments.
After receiving these assurances of deployments to Nimbo, I felt quite confident that we had done everything possible to forestall an attack on Nimbo. I have deliberately narrated what transpired at the Security Council meeting fully conscious of the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution pertaining to my oath of office. I am doing this in due discharge of my duties as Governor.
Sadly, in the early hours of Monday reports of this carnage reached me. More disturbing was the report that the attack of innocent and defenceless citizens were carried out at about 6.30 am.
Further reports available to me indicate that apart from the killing and maiming of innocent and defenceless citizens of Nimbo a Church was also burnt.
Following this development, I engaged the security agencies in order to ensure that the Nimbo area was secured from further attacks that might escalate the situation.
On Tuesday, April 26, 2016, I visited Nimbo in order to establish firsthand the extent of carnage. My visit to Nimbo was revealing. I came face to face with the wounded and bereaved. I saw burnt and damaged personage of Christ Holy Church. I saw a traumatized community in shock and despair. I saw a dead body. I wept. I wondered what has become of our quest for a united, peaceful and prosperous nation.
Now in less than three months, violent clashes have occurred in Enugu State in Awgu, Nike, Abbi and Nimbo between suspected herdsmen and our people.
This situation cannot be allowed to continue.
For this reason, I sought audience with His Excellency, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Our discussions were frank and cordial.
I am very grateful to the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Muhammadu Buhari for his prompt and decisive reaction to the incident in Nimbo. The President came out with a clear and unmistakable condemnation of this dastardly act and gave clear and definite directives to the security agencies to fish out these criminals and bring them to justice.
I am at once, constituting 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 will 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.
Finally, all security agencies in the State are hereby directed to continue to ensure that lives and property of the people of the State and all its residents are protected.
Thank you and God bless you.
Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi
Governor, Enugu State
