President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered security chiefs to hunt down those who perpetrated the attack on Ukpabi Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani area of Enugu State on Monday.
President Buhari gave the order in an address delivered on his behalf by the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, at the public presentation of a book, entitled
“Who will Love My Country: Ideas for Building the Nigeria of our Dream”, written by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, in Abuja.
The President’s words: “Before making my remarks about the book, let me use this platform to condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the attack perpetrated on the Ukpabi Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani area of Enugu State on Monday.
I deeply sympathise with all those who lost dear ones, as well as those who lost their properties in the attack.
“I have directed the Chief of Defence Staff and the Inspector-General of Police to secure all communities under attacks by herdsmen, and to go after all the groups terrorizing innocent people all over the country. This government will not allow these attacks to continue.”
Police corporal led attack, indigenes tell IGP
The people of Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani on Wednesday told the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Solomon Arase, that policemen who were officially posted to protect them disappeared shortly before the attackers arrived and killed over 20 people.
Spokesperson of the community, Dr George Ajogwu, who made the allegation, told Arase that the attackers were led by a police corporal serving at Adani Police Station in the local government.
Responding, the IGP, Solomon Arase said: “The incident is very depressing and pathetic. I am not happy about it.
The death of one person diminishes humanity. I am concerned about the number of people that died.
Even the death of one person means a lot to the entire country. That is why I decided to come and have an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.
Most of the stories we have out there were at variance with what is on the ground. Thank God.
“We are looking for the panacea to the problem. Now that I am here, I am able to see what has happened.
We should be able to find solutions to the problems. I can assure Nigerians that no Nigerian who snuffed life out of a fellow Nigerian will got scot-free.
We will make sure that we catch the perpetrators of the crime and prosecute them.”
I did not call Buhari on Military – Governor Ugwuanyi
Meanwhile, Governor Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has denied reports in the social media that he made calls to President Buhari, just as he lauded the President’s order that the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin and the IG of Police should as as matter of urgency go after the attackers.