The recent killings at Ukpabi Nimbo, in Uzo-Uwanni LGA of Enugu State, allegedly by Fulani herdsmen is no longer news.
What is news however are the various narratives, interpretations ans opinions that have trailed the event, ranging from the Government's action or inaction as the case may be, to the 'deafening' silence of the number one citizen. Some of these narratives, however, are largely unconfirmed.
Below is a post of such narrative, unconfirmed, as posted on Whatsapp chat and the reactions it generated. All published as received, after the cut...
The post:
Got this
off a friends wall(fbook). If it's true, then someone should be heading to The Hague,
however long it takes!!
FOR THOSE
OF YOU SO QUICK AT CONDEMNING THE ENUGU GOVERNOR, THIS IS FROM A FRIEND:
Those of
you who were busy abusing and insulting the Governor and other leaders over the
Fulani planned killing in Enugu, for not issuing statements, please read and
learn to think before writing:
Ndaa Isaac
wrote:
Details of
Buharis silence
Apologies
to Governor of Enugu state.
There was a
call made by Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to the president, he was put on hold for over an
hour 15 minutes.
This call
was made in the presence of 13 men and 4
women, the president aid told the Governor that the president will get back to
him. The president through his aid after 4 hrs told Enugu state governor that
the president will do something about it.
My relative
was among the people who witness this call. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi on hearing that
the police have not arrived at Uzouwani called GOC 82 division for help. He was
refereed to the presidency again.
This time
around, he was put on hold for nearly 2 hrs again, while waiting to speak to
the president. News came in that the attack he was planning to prevent has
actually taken place.
Within an
hour, the commissioner and GOC who
refereed the Governor to the president has mobilised their men to stop
retaliation. The same way Lagos and
Agatu was attacked and retaliation prevented.
I want to
use this medium to apologise to the Governor of Enugu state, but I would like
him to demand probe/investigation on this massacre. I will know he has learnt
his lessons, if not he is still a cretin we will have for only four years.
We need to
know why police commissioner and GOC
need presidency order before they can protect the innocent citizens?.
We need to
know - why police and military sent
their men to Uzouwani after the attack to prevent retaliation?
We need to
know why a sitting Governor cannot use the support of police and military to
protect his people?.
My
governor, I am just apologising because l taught you did nothing at all, but as
a man " what was your PLAN B?, if presidency fail to help. You would have
use the media which is FREE.
Reactions:
1:
Hmmmm....This
is really serious. If true, we should all arm ourselves then
2:
I believe
Mr. President, sadly, isn't giving the matter the attention it deserves.
Nigerian lives should be seen as sacred and respected. Unfortunately, the FG's
posture suggests the contrary. I worry that people might resort to self help
soon.
3:
The
herdsmen matter has not affected foreign interest yet. When it does, he will
speak and take action. Unfortunately, I feel he has become a victim of
political imperialism. He only talks tough when he goes visiting. He has to say
what they want him to say.
4:
During d
campaigns, when so many evil things were said about Buhari, many of us thought
it was political mudslinging, now we know better!
5:
Let's not
politicise this ethnic criminality. First, that post is yet to be verified.
Secondly, this fulani ish is been allowed to go unchallenged for a very long
time. And I'm talking my village, over the last 10 years. Many of us know from
accounts from relatives that they've been ravaging communities across the country,
with authorities refusing to do anything. Killing and raping innocent people. However,
Buhari is the President now and the buck stops at his desk. But let's not tie
it to "that's what they said..." because his predecessors didn't do
anything too. Now that
begs the question, why are the fulanis getting away with murder? They've turned almost every part of the
country to slaughter grounds. Every region, including communities in the North! There's
thus the bigger issue of defining the basis of our unity as a country. What's
the social contract between the federating nationalities? Why for example, does
state governors lack power over security agencies in a state they govern? What we've
done in my village is to lace plants with snuff (tobacco) mixed with chemicals.
It kills cattle and they've learnt to stay away. But they also raid farms to
steal crops and kill/injure/rape along side. They're often well armed and
villagers can't match them because we can't access such heavy duty weapons.
Otherwise, security agents will visit the village. I think all
Nigerians should continue to make this issue a public debate until real
conversations at official quarters take place. Again, goes
back to something I said some days ago...let our representatives at NASS begin
to represent us! They should
raise points of national interest and force a debate on this fulani issue.
Break ranks with their party and represent their people! This also
is the kind of issue the Nigerian Governors Forum should take up..
6:
Previously these attacks were not carried out as brazenly as they are being
done now. The audacity is what miffs me. And the criminal silence & even
justification from official quarters simply riles my biles! Did u read Garba
Shehu's timid response to this issue?
7:
It's always
been brazen; social media is giving the oppressed voice and reach now. The
government has really disappointed. This issue, even more than the failing on
economic issue, will be it's downfall.
8:
And d civil
society/pick a penny activists? They're busy
occupying NASS on political sponsorship. Isn't
#fulaniherdsmen enough to goad them into occupying Aso rock? Their house
is on fire and they're busy pursuing rats! Hiss!!! This issue
is tinderbox waiting for d right spark to ignite! If d President continues in
his silence, it'll explode right into his face!! Is he waiting for a major
conflagration? It is already loading. History doesn't repeat itself. Humans
repeat history!!
9:
Good
points on a wider national discuss. I'll tell you why all fingers point towards
Buhari. The DSS (headed by his kinsman and reports directly to him) assaulted
our collective senses by going to investigate the purported killing of 5 Fulani
herdsmen in Abia a couple of weeks ago and found 55 graves of other Nigerians
allegedly killed by kidnappers. Guess what?
The DSS issued a statement on the Fulani 5 only! The 50 other Nigerians don't
fall within their warped purview. Several young Igbo chaps peacefully agitating
for Biafra were labeled felons and massacred by the Army. Buhari refused to
acknowledge it or look at the video of that horrendous act when confronted by
an Al Jazeera news anchor. What about
the hundreds (Shiites) killed in Kaduna and secretly buried in mass graves with
not even a word uttered by Buhari? It just goes on. That's what
you get when one group believe they are born to rule, and some gullible others
trod along for selfish reasons. I fear for Nigeria.
10:
I
absolutely agree with the charge that PMB is abdicating his constitutional
duties on this issue of Fulani herdsmen. Buck stops at his desk. But I don't
know if I buy into a conspiracy theory to use the DSS. After all, there are
Ndigbo who are serving in the Intelligence community and in the south east. Are
they betraying us? I hold that it is more productive if we push this
conversation towards what I believe is it's core - the fact that Nigeria is a
false state. We need to address it first. E.g. , You have
hinted at the Fulani hegemony. This they do through a stranglehold on political
power. Buhari is there now, but it might as well be anyone from the north. As
you may be aware, the PDP has zoned the Presidency to the North for 2019. So,
even if PMB isn't there tomorrow, the region still remains in control. What we
should be pushing therefore is a restructuring of the federation as currently
conceived. And only through a equal roundtable discourse. Again, this fulani
killings have been going on for a long time. Let's view it in that context and
ask what should be done.
11:
d issue of
our feeding bottle federalism, apologies to Ekweremadu, would continue to
subsist as long as oil comes from d south. I assure u if d reverse were d case,
true federalism would have been the norm. Prior to d oil boom era, regions were
fending for themselves & developing at their pace relying on their
God-given resources like cocoa, groundnuts etc. The curse
of the black man came & we went bunkers! Let it dry up and it'll be back to
ur tents Oh Israel!!
12:
Aha! Those
are the agenda issues people we elect should be pushing. And the reality of the
situation plays out in things like the Fulani killings. .. They're
interconnected.
13:
Are u truly
hoping for renaissance thru our self centred
politicians? Tell me how many contrived constitutional conferences have we had?
What is d outcome of d various wasteful constitutional amendments? Unfortunately,
the civil society groups who are supposed to force d issues have become
mindlessly compromised. Only d force of nature can now recalibrate our society.
And it starts from where it started. Oil doom!
The President need to order investigation, and let there be arrest and prosecution accordingly. Lawrence Ogedegbe
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