Enugu Killings: Gov. Ugwuanyi blames security agencies, set up inquiry

Still nursing the wounds of Monday’s attack by suspected Fulani herdsmen on Ukpabi Nimbo community, Uzouwani council, that claimed lives and property, Enugu State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi yesterday, asked security agencies in the state to explain to Nigerians why the attack took place despite all the assurances they gave him that everything was under control.

About twenty innocent lives were lost with several others sustaining severe wounds after the herdsmen struck in the early hours of Monday in the community. Ugwuanyi, who addressed leaders of the state including senators, House of reps members, State legislators, Council chairmen in the presence of top security personnel such as the states’ Police Commissioner, Garrison Commander and State Director of Security Services; did not mince words in deploring the perceived security negligence of the officials after an emergency security council meeting where they assured him that the state was safe.

“In the meeting, we received assurances from the Commissioner of Police that the Area Commander of SARS was on ground in Nimbo. That the Anti-Terrorism Unit was at Nimbo. That he was in contact with the Kogi State Commissioner of Police and reported suspected herdsmen grouping at Odolu in Kogi State preparaing for an attack on Nimbo and Abbi communities.

That Police mobile force and conventional police were already drafted to Nimbo and Abbi communities. He claimed he was in touch with the Area Commander, Idah, ACP Ikegwuonwu who had linked him with the Area Commander, Nsukka, ACP Monday Kuryas. Both men according to the CP reported that there were no traces of suspected herdsmen in Nsukka or Idah. He also ordered the Area Commander, Nsukka, to redeploy to Nimbo.

Explaining that government rallied round to provided logistics for the deployments, the governor added: “ After receiving these assurances of deployments to Nimbo, I felt quite confident that we had done everything possible to forestall an attack on Nimbo.”