London, Unic Press UK: President Buhari has issued an order to law enforcement agents to nip in the bid incessant attacks on communities by suspected herdsmen of the Fulani stock.
Recent attacks in Nigeria by suspected Fulani herdsmen, included: Nimbo in Enugu state [April 2016], Awgu in Enugu state, Agatu in Benue state, Lagelu in Oyo state, Gashaka in Taraba state, among others.
The attacks on Enugu state – Nimbo and Awgu – seem to have claimed hundreds of lives, contrary to previous reports that put only a two-digit figure on the number of people killed.
The attacks have been highly coordinated in recent times, and the attackers use a range of sophisticated weapons, including automatic assault rifle AK-47.
A section of the Nigeria media and politics analysts assert that the Boko Haram – a terrorist organisation founded in Nigeria – might have been responsible for some of the attacks in southern part of Nigeria.
After each attack, the perpetrators seem untraceable given no reports on arrests by the Nigerian Police.
There is a section of the Nigerian people who believe that the security agents have deliberately abandoned a number of communities.
On the case of the attacks on Monday, 25 April, on the people of Nimbo in Enugu state, the federal government and the Enugu state government were aware of a nefarious plot to attack the community, and the security and intelligence agencies were informed, given the position of the caretaker Chairman, Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, Mr Cornel Onwubuya.
Onwubuya says he told the Enugu state commissioner of police, the heads of other security agencies and the governor of Enugu state, about the plot to attack communities in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area as he alerted by Fulani leaders that the herdsmen were plotting an attack.
Buhari’s order to law enforcement agents, which was communicated to the media per a press release by the senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Shehu Garba, on 27 April, reads:
“Following continuing reports of attacks by “herdsmen” on communities across the country, particularly Monday’s attack on Ukpabi Nimbo in Enugu State, President Muhammadu Buhari assures all Nigerians, once again, of his administration’s continued commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property in all parts of the country.
President Buhari unreservedly condemns the attack on Ukpabi Nimbo on other such acts of extreme violence against communities in other states of the Federation.
Acting on the President’s directive, the Inspector-General of Police and heads of the nation’s other security agencies are already taking urgent steps to fully investigate the attacks, apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
Ending the recent upsurge of attacks on communities by herdsmen reportedly armed with sophisticated weapons is now a priority on the Buhari Administration’s agenda for enhanced national security and the Armed Forces and Police have clear instructions to take all necessary action to stop the carnage.
In keeping with the President’s directive, the Inspector-General of Police, the General Officer Commanding the 82nd Division of the Nigerian Army and the Director of the Department of State Security in Enugu State have visited Ukapbi Nimbo to personally oversee investigations into the attack on the community and ongoing efforts to apprehend the culprits.
The President urges all Nigerians to remain calm and assured of his administration’s readiness to deploy all required personnel and resources to remove this new threat to the collective security of the nation.“
