Anger is building up across the country over killings by suspected Fulani herdsmen and may explode to an unimaginable proportion if nothing is done fast by the government. The latest is the Monday night attack on an Enugu community where no fewer than 48 people are believed to have been killed.
The Archbishop of Anglican Communion (Enugu Archdiocese) Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma has warned that if nothing was done to check the menace of Fulani herdsmen, he would personally ask the pro-Biafra groups to declare a war against them.
The fiery cleric, who was visibly angry over Monday’s attack on an Enugu community, said it was now clear that the Federal Government controlled security agencies deliberately engaged in selective negligence. He called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in Igboland.
The Archbishop was surprised that many hours after the attack, no arrest had been made. The cleric insisted that Fulani herdsmen were more violent than the pro-Biafra agitators and called on Southeast governors to rise up to the security challenge.
“I feel bitter, I feel aggrieved. I feel sad that the APC government at the centre cannot protect us. We call on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in Igbo land over the Fulani herdsmen’s threat to security in the zone or else we will declare war against the Fulani herdsmen.
“I feel sad that APC government at the centre cannot protect us. Failure to curb the activities of Fulani herdsmen will make us to ban the Fulani herdsmen from rearing their cattle in the zone. Any attempt to harass any Igbo youth, any community will not be taken lightly. We will not tolerate it in Igbo land. We are declaring war against the Fulani herdsmen. We are calling on Northern elders to caution their people.
“With the failure of the Southeast governors to rise to the security challenge, we will pass a vote of no confidence in them. Where did the Fulani herdsmen get the AK 47 rifles? We will bring our own Ogbunigwe out to defend our rights. We will match force with force.
“Fulani herdsmen come to Igbo land, ravage our farm land, rape our women. That we were defeated in the last civil war does not mean we will remain slaves forever even in our land. We will defend our land with our blood and anything, including Ogbunigwe. Why was there security lapse? The DSS and other security operatives alerted the government yet they went ahead with their threat by unleashing mayhem on the villagers. The Fulani herdsmen are more violent than the Biafra agitator” he said.
SOURCE: THE WHISTLE
