Authority / Nigeria: Rampaging Fulani herdsmen struck again in Enugu State in the wee hours of Thursday – killing a seminarian simply identified as Lazarus Nwafor and injuring four other occupants of the raided house.
The incident occurred in Ndiagu Attakwu community in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The latest attack came four months, precisely on Monday, April 25, 2016, when some Fulani marauders unleashed terror on the people of Agabi Nimbo community in Uzo Uwani Local Government Area of the state.
In that attack, which attracted condemnations beyond the shores of Nigeria, scores of innocent residents were killed while their houses and churches were burnt down by the herdsmen.
Both the community and the state government are still nursing the wounds from the violence.
In the Ndiagu Attakwu invasion, which occurred around 2am on Thursday, The AUTHORITY learnt that the approach of the herdsmen was similar to that of the Nimbo community.
Some villagers said that the herdsmen’s attack on the Ogbodo Nwarum family compound of Ndiagu Attakwu was provoked by some uncomplimentary remarks which the pregnant wife of the landlord allegedly made when the herdsmen and their cows marched through their compound the previous day.
The seminarian was a tenant in the house. It was learnt that the marauders cut open the ceiling of the living room of Nwafor to gain access to their targets.
Unfortunately, Nwafor, who returned from his apostolic work the previous day, was their first victim. He reportedly died instantly from the machete cuts inflicted on him by the attackers.
Thereafter, the herdsmen proceeded to attack the rest of the occupants of the building, who were fast asleep.
According to residents of the area, it was the alarm raised by one of the victims that attracted the attention of other members of the community.
Mr. Ogbodo Nwarum, the landlord, was said to have received several machete cuts just as his pregnant wife, aged mother and daughter were not spared.
Members of the community, who came to their rescue, it was learnt, rushed them to the hospital for treatment. Unfortunately, the seminarian was confirmed dead on arrival by the doctors.
Ogbodo, his pregnant wife, who received a deep cut on her stomach and other members of the family, are said to be recuperating at the Mother of Christ Specialist Hospital, Ogui, Enugu.
Meanwhile, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who rushed to the community to assess the situation, expressed shock over the attack. He promised that security agents in the state will fish out the perpetrators of the dastardly act.
The Governor said he had summoned an emergency Security Council meeting to determine the next line of action.
He urged the villagers and other Nigerians resident in Ndiagwu Attakwu community to maintain peace as the government, the police and other security agencies will get to the root of the matter.
Reacting to the development, an elder statesman and a former secretary in the old Anambra State government, Mr. Nduka Eya, described the situation as very horrible and blamed the incessant attacks on communities by Fulani militiamen on the recalcitrant attitude and negligence of President Muhammadu Buhari in taking drastic measures to redress the matter.
He wondered if the people of the South East zone, whom their farm crops are being destroyed by Fulani herdsmen, are still Nigerians.
As at the time of filing this report, the state police command was yet to react to the incident. Attempts to get the reaction of the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, proved abortive.
Also yesterday, the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu condemned the Thursday dawn attack by suspected herdsmen on Attakwu, Akagbe Ugwu community.
He commended Governor Ugwuanyi and security agencies for their gallantry in busting the robbery attack on Independence Layout, Enugu on Wednesday.
In a statement by his Special Adviser (Media), Uche Anichukwu, Ekweremadu said the incessant attacks on parts of the country by suspected herdsmen posed a grave threat to the peace, security, and economy of the country.
He called on the Federal Government to take decisive steps to stop the ugly trend.
6 months’ imprisonment for open grazing in Ekiti.
Meanwhile, in Ekiti State, any erring herdsmen grazing their cattle on the streets risk six-year jail term. The Ekiti State House of Assembly on Thursday passed the Bill seeking to regulate public grazing in the state.
The passage of the bill followed the submission of the report of the Joint Committees on Agriculture and Environment by its Chairman, Mr. Ayodele Fajemilehin, to the Committee of the Whole House.
The Speaker of the House, Hon. Kola Oluwawole, who presided over Tuesday’s plenary session, said the bill would now reduce the incessant clashes between the farmers and herdsmen in the state.
If the bill is accented to by the governor, it will become a crime for any cattle, sheep and goat to graze on undesignated lands in Ekiti.
According to the new bill tagged, “Prohibition of Cattle and Other Ruminants Grazing in Ekiti, 2016”, anyone found violating the bill upon conviction shall be sentenced to six months in prison without an option of fine.
The bill further stipulates that, “The Governor shall by an order designate land in each of 16 local government areas in the state in respect of which cattle or ruminants may be permitted to graze.
“No person shall cause or permit any cow, oxen, sheep as well as goat under his or her control to graze on any land in which the Governor has not designated as ranches.”
The bill also forbids the movement of cattle by herdsmen and owners of goats in Ekiti State after 6pm.
“No cattle or other ruminants, shall by any means, move in the night; movement shall be between 7am and 6pm”.
