Police says ‘Fulani herdsmen not responsible’ for Enugu Massacre

The Enugu State Police Command says Fulani herdsmen are not responsible for the killing of dozens of people in Ukpabi Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani local government area of Enugu State on Monday.

The officials however didn’t reveal those responsible for the heinous crime. This was contained in a statement issued by the police force in the aftermath of the attack.

The police also said six persons were killed in the attack not 20 people as widely reported.
“On the 25th of April 2016, at about 0630 hours (6.30am), some hoodlums invaded the fringes of Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, killing six persons and injuring 11, and one person subsequently died,” the police said in a statement.

“The attention of Enugu State Police Command has been drawn to various publications in some sections of the media regarding the incident at Nimbo Community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State and hereby present the facts as follows for the guidance of members of the public and to avoid being misinformed.”

“That the police and army team in the area, noticing what was going on, responded whereby the hoodlums fled after also burning the house of Rev. Pastor Samuel Chukwuemeka, two vehicles and one other vehicle damaged.”

“It has become necessary to give information/update of earlier information by the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command and state the actual figures as so many figures are bandied about by various sections of the media.”

On Wednesday, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered security chiefs to hunt down those who perpetrated the attack in Enugu state.
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed announced the presidential directive at a function in Abuja

The President sympathised with all those who lost dear ones, as well as those who lost properties, in the attack.

He said the government would not allow these attacks to continue across the country.
It’s the first time the President would be speaking on the attack.

The President also met with the governor of Enugu state,  Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to discuss the issue.
The Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, has also ordered the detention of a policeman, identified as Corporal Chukwu, who allegedly collaborated with herdsmen during the killing of residents in Enugu State.

Arase has also directed that the policeman be detained and properly investigated.
He gave the assurance that once the allegations against him in the Enugu massacre were confirmed, he would not only leave the Police but would be prosecuted.

Arase, who visited the community to commiserate with victims of the attack, said his visit was aimed at assessing the situation and subsequently plan how to find a permanent solution to the issue.