– Enugu youths have rejected the call by some people to carry out a reprisal attack against Fulani herdsmen
– The herdsmen have been accused of attacking communities in the state
– The youth said any reckless action will affect the lives of Igbos in the north
Following the killing of Enugu people perpetuated by suspected Fulani herdsmen, Enugu youths have lashed out at those calling for reprisal attacks.
Fulani herdsmen have terrorised some parts of the communities in Enugu state and this has led to calls from persons to students and youths in the state to carry out a reprisal attack on the herdsmen.
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The recent attack left two persons dead and three other injured and some people urged the youths to carry arms against the herdsmen.
Vanguard however reports that the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) of the Enugu state chapter said it would be disastrous to embark on a revenge mission.
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It described the action as counter-productive and might lead to the endangering of lives of youths and students in the state.
In a statement signed by Comrade Chidi Ilogebe and Comrade Victor Ezenagu who is the chairman of NANS and South East and South South PRO, they described the comments as “careless, inciting and inimical to the calculated efforts being made by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to decisively resolve the issue in line with the oath of office he swore to uphold.”
They said unlike Ekiti state, the number of Igbos living in the north was high and they would not do any reckless thing that would jeopardise the safety of their lives and properties.
The said “no true Igbo leader would support any act that could lead to bloodshed or undermine the peace and unity of the country.”
They also stated that “Gov. Ugwuanyi as a responsible leader believes in due process and constitutional way of addressing issues of this nature and should not be pushed to instigate the people of the state to take laws into their hands, as that is certainly not the best option under a democratic setting.”
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They advised the state government to call a town hall meeting to sensitise the people on how to protect lives and properties.
They expressed confidence in the ability of the state government to ensure that justice was done on the matter of herdsmen.
They called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the security agencies to step up actions to put an end to the dastardly acts of the herdsmen in the overall interest of the country.
Meanwhile, the police announced the arrest of one suspected herdsman who partook in the bloody attack on Attakwu community
Ebere Amaraizu who is the spokesperson of the police said: “Nigeria police force in its resolve towards unmasking those behind the dastardly act perpetrated at Ndiagu Attakwu community of Akegbeugwu in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu state in the early hours of 25/8/16, which left one person dead and four others critically injured, have nabbed a suspect identified as one Umaru Isah from Gusau Zamfara State over his alleged involvement in the incident.
“His arrest came through intelligence information gathered. The said suspect, who claimed that he is 20 years old, revealed that he came in from Gusau Zamfara State to Enugu recently for the purposes of rearing cattle, but has none to rear till now.
“Investigations have commenced in full scale into his nefarious activities with a view to unmasking his gang members so that they can be brought to book. The state commissioner of police Emmanuel Ojukwu has vowed to unmask all those involved in the dastardly act and bring them to book.”
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