Nigerians from different parts of the country could not hold back tears on Friday as victims of the herdsmen attack on Nimbo community, Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State were laid to rest.
DAILY POST recalls that Nimbo came under severe attack on Monday, the 25th of April, 2016, by gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.
In his speech, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who led the State Government’s delegation to the mass burial, said the incident “will ever remain a dark, sad and solemn day in the memory of the people of Enugu State and indeed Nigerians at large.”
He recalled that “It was on that day that our brothers and sisters, whose remains are lying here before us, were ambushed and murdered in cold blood and in their own land.
“Having done all that was needful, including attending to the injured and the displaced, we have assembled here, in tears and in grief, to bury the dead and bid their innocent souls a final farewell.
“Though our emotions cannot restore them to life, we find solace in the fact that the whole world had stood by us and offered us sympathy and solidarity, ever since the incident that took their lives, occurred.
“We make bold to declare that their deaths can never be in vain and we pledge to do all that is within our legitimate means, to give them justice.
“Like the martyrs they have become, the spilling of their innocent blood is already saving souls as it has aroused in our people and indeed the whole nation, a burning impulse to do all that is necessary to prevent the future occurrence of similar incidents anywhere in the country. “
“Shortly after the attack, we had called for fasting and prayers and we must declare that the God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, and awesome God of David, has not failed us but has continued to show us His mercies.
“For, even as we await the outcome of the judicial panel of Inquiry that we have constituted to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident, we received news that five people, who are suspected to have participated in the attack, had been arrested by the police and paraded before the whole world.
“We use this occasion therefore to once again, express our gratitude to the generality of Nigerians who put aside religious, ethnic and political differences, to offer us their hands of support and sympathy after the killings.
“We thank the Federal Government and the security agencies for the steps they are taking to prevent future occurrences and address the issues that led to the incident.
“We thank the people of Enugu State for their restraint and for the confidence they placed in our ability as a Government to deal with the matter in a mature and responsible manner.
“Finally, we wish to thank the elders and stakeholders of Enugu State, Traditional Rulers, Members of the State and National Assemblies, members of the clergy and indeed everyone who found time to be here today as we send forth our brothers and sisters, to eternity and immortality. May their souls rest in the peace”, he prayed.
Meanwhile, DAILY POST correspondent, who attended the burial mass presided over by the Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Prof. Godffrey Igwebuike Onah, reports that it was difficult to control residents of the community and other sympathizers as they wept uncontrollably.
In his sermon, the Bishop called on President Muhammedu Buhari to do everything in his power to disarm Fulani herdsmen of their dangerous weapon else the level of violence in the country would be of serious magnitude.
“Everything must be done to disarm these aggressors and apprehend and punish the criminals according to the law”, he charged the Federal Government.
Speaking further, the Bishop urged the legislative arm of government not to yield to the pressure been mounted to give assent to grazing laws.
“We join our voices to those of other Nigerians urging the legislative arm of our government not to contemplate any laws that would deprive us of our farmlands and means of sustenance in order to provide grazing grounds for Fulani cattle rearers”, he said.
He added that the survival of man was not tied down to the Fulani cow meat alone but required other foodstuff for his daily living.
“Man does not live by cow meat alone; he also needs yam, coco-yam, rice, beans, maize, cassava vegetables, fruits which the cattle reaers no longer allow us to produce”, he declared.
Photo Credit: Facebook – Louis Amoke
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