Achi suspected herdsmen murder: one suspect nabbed as Governor reassures safety of communities in Enugu
A suspect has been arrested in the Amamkpunato Achi herdsmen attack in Oji River LGA of Enugu State
The Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi made this known when the Presidents General of communities in Oji River Local Government Area led a protest of Oji River concerned citizens to Government House, Enugu
The Governor who was represented by his Aide De Camp, in an amplified phone conversation with the Presidents General, consoled the family and people of the Local Government on the death of Mr Eugene Iloabana.
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He said no stone will be left unturned in the effort of security agencies in the State to arrest other accomplices to the crime.
The Governor said he was pained by the unwarranted attack and he would do whatever it would take, to ensure such attacks no longer take place in the State.
He advised the people not to take laws into their hands but allow the Police to fish out the culprits
He made a cash donation to the family and offered scholarship to the three children of the deceased.
The Town Union leaders also took their protest to the Oha n ‘eze President General, Chief Nnia Nwodo, at the Oha n ‘eze Secretariat in Enugu
They told the President General that this recurring attack and provacation must stop as they were having a herculean task holding back angry youths from re-sorting to self help.
Nwodo who regretted that this criminality was allowed to be taking place in Igbo land expressed his condolences and called on the Federal Government to put a stop to the senseless killings
Below is the communique by the Association of Presidents General of Oji River LGA
COMMUNIQUE REACHED BY THE 29 PRESIDENTS GENERAL OF OJI RIVER LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
FOLLOWING THE MURDER OF OUR BROTHER LATE MR. EUGENE ILOABANI YESTERDAY 29TH JUNE, 2020 AT HIS FARMLAND IN ISIOKWE, AMANKPUNATO ACHI AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITY AND THE INCESSANT ATTACKS, KILLINGS, MOLESTATIONS AND DEVASTATION OF OUR FARM LANDS BY SUSPECTED HERDSMEN/ARMED BANDITS ACROSS THE LENGTH AND BREADTH OF OJI RIVER.
In consideration of the following:
Yesterday, 29th of June we were starred with the reality of the murder of our brother Late Mr. Eugene Iloabani from Isiokwe Ukwu in Isiokwe Amankpunato Achi Autonomous Community while farming to fend for his dependants as it is customary in igboland.
This criminal act by the suspected herdsmen/armed bandits was the culmination of very many provocations by these criminals against our people.
Just a couple of months ago, at Ehuhe Achi community another of our brother Mr. Elias Umeano from Umuarugwu, who had gone to fetch bamboo sticks for his local church escaped death by the whiskers. He had his hand nearly severed from the rest of his body but he was luckier than Eugene from Amankpunato.
Similarly, in Umulobe family, Umuagu Inyi Autonomous Community yet another brother, Mr Donatus Ikpeameze sustained serious matchet cuts in his head but was again lucky to come back alive.
In Amankwo and Nkwere Inyi villages in Agbada Inyi Autonomous Community, farmland and crops were devastated and destroyed by suspected herdsmen/bandits who maliciously traverse the farm uprooting crops and cassava and feeding their cattle leaving our women and farmers in agony of hunger and deprivation.
The women protested to their traditional ruler HRH Igwe Ignatius Okpara who ensured that the Local Government Chairman at the time convened a settlement meeting with the herdsmen who promised to pay for the damages and ensure there will be no future occurrences.
In Mbogu, Awlaw, Ugwuoba, Agbalaenyi Nachi, Egwu Achi, Ishikwe Achi, Elugwu Akwu Achi, the list is endless, it is the same cries of woes and helplessness.
And considering the fact also that our people are essentially farmers and their main source of livelihood is greatly encumbered without a clear hope of how to sustain their families.
Again in realization of the fact that we had complained severally to the herdsmen and the police through the Local Government Chairman about these menace in the past but the provocation and attacks instead of abetting is on the increase to the extent now that our brother Late Eugene, has now been slain in cold blood on his own soil for no reason at all.
Our people are killed and their agricultural products damaged while suspected herdsmen/bandits are prospering their own businesses and interests.
It is our resolve therefore to call on the State Government and all Security Agencies to stand up on the security and welfare of our people in Oji River and indeed the entire Enugu State which is the primary aim of governance as enshrined in Nigerian Constitution.
We further resolved after our meeting that after three days we may be constrained to start defending ourselves as we cannot be second class citizens on our own soil. We are not cattle rearers and we don’t want them or their cattle and their deadly weapons.
Hon. Ejike Ilo Sir Victor Udah
Coordinator & PG Ehuhe Achi Secretary & PG Agbada Inyi
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