We the Igbo
Ekunie Initiative, IEI, comprising individuals in Nigeria and the Diaspora;
condemn in the strongest terms the massacre once again of defenceless citizens
in cold blood by marauding Fulani terrorists in Uzo-uwani Enugu state. At the
last count more than 50 persons lost their lives, countless others maimed while
Churches and other property were burnt down. Reports from various sources have
confirmed that as these terrorist attacks were ongoing, the federal government
and colluding security services i.e. the Nigerian army, DSS and Police refused
to intervene to stop the carnage. We submit that the most important
constitutional responsibility of a state is the protection of lives and
property but when the same state and its agents now take sides with terrorists
on tribal grounds to facilitate the slaying of other citizens, it constitutes
not only a treasonable abdication of duty but also a violation of international
statutes against terrorism and a crime against humanity.
We note that
it’s not the first time the federal government and the security services have
openly aided and abetted Fulani herdsmen terrorists as they massacre citizens
across the country. Most recently it happened in Agatu Benue state, in Awgu
Enugu state and now again in Uzo-Uwani Enugu state. For all intents and
purposes; this is a very dangerous route that previously led to the Nigerian
civil war and that can only lead to anarchy. We have accordingly lost faith in
the federal government’s commitment to respecting its constitutional
responsibility to protect the lives and property of all citizens. However as a
last ditch effort to save the situation we make the following demands.
·
That the federal government
should immediately declare a state of emergency against the terrorist activities
of Fulani herdsmen and accordingly disarm the errant herdsmen and arrest the
culprits implicated in the Enugu massacre and other atrocities across the
nation.
·
That the federal government
should as a matter of urgency remove and prosecute the Chief of army staff, the
director general of DSS, the IG of
Police, the GOC 82 division Enugu and
the Enugu state commissioner of police for criminal/treasonable collusion and dereliction of duty.
·
That the federal government
should immediately overhaul and restructure the army, DSS, police and other
security services in view of professionalising them.
·
That henceforth all movement of
cows and herdsmen should be by trucks or by train as the case maybe and the herdsmen should enter
negotiations with states and or local governments to lease land (subject to its
renewal every year) where secured ranches could be established for the purposes
of restraining cows within the said
ranches.
·
That the arrangement to lease
land for ranches in any state of the country should be purely a private affair
between the herdsmen and the state or local governments like all other private
businesses and as such no federal commission should be created for that
purpose.
·
That the federal government
should pay adequate compensation to victims and families of Fulani terrorist
attacks and provide funds for the reconstruction of all such ravaged
communities.
·
That the federal government
should urgently begin the framework for the establishment of state police to
enable a more effective means for the protection of lives and property by
states in the federation.
·
That the federal government
should as a matter of urgency either organise a sovereign national conference
or implement the 2014 national conference report as a strategy to tackle the
nation’s growing existential crisis.
Finally, we call
on the governors to evolve a better trained and equipped local vigilante
service to protect the villages. We also call for a total boycott of beef as an
interim measure, and for all communities within the frontlines to be vigilant
and to take all necessary proactive steps to defend themselves by any means
necessary against the invading terrorists.
Maazi Tochukwu Ezeoke
President Igbo Ekunie Initiative
+234 70800 42206
Email: [email protected]
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