Herdsmen killings: Nobody will push us into reprisal attack – Enugu students

7 years ago

Herdsmen killings: Nobody will push us into reprisal attack – Enugu students

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Enugu State Chapter, Thursday, took a swipe on those inciting youths of the state to stage reprisal attack on the Fulani herdsmen over the recent carnage in the state.
The students stated that such call was counter-productive and might lead to the endangering of lives of youths and students in the state.

There have been public outcries, especially on the social media, inciting the students and youths of Enugu State to retaliate the attack on Ndiagu Attakwu community by suspected herdsmen, which left two dead and three persons injured.

Reacting to the development, the student union in a statement jointly signed by the State Chairman of NANS, Comrade Chidi Ilogebe and its South East and South South PRO, Comrade Victor Ezenagu, described such comments as “careless, inciting and inimical to the calculated efforts being made by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to decisively resolve the issue in line with the oath of office he swore to uphold.”

While condemning the attack in its entirety, they noted that the menace of the herdsmen was a national issue and required the swift intervention of the federal government, which is constitutionally empowered to nip in the bud the atrocities of the marauders.

The student leaders stressed that “Enugu state is one of the most peaceful and least states in the country that were being ravaged by the herdsmen, wondering why some people should attempt to instigate the students to retaliate while they sit back in their comfort zones and watch.”

They said that unlike in Ekiti State, the population of Igbos living in the northern parts of the country was enormous, fueling fears that any unlawful action against the herdsmen in retaliation may likely put the Igbos in the north at the receiving end.

On the call by some Igbo groups for the Enugu Governor to emulate Gov. Ayo Fayose’s actions against the herdsmen, the students said that no true Igbo leader would support any act that could lead to bloodshed or undermine the peace and unity of the country.

They also stated that Gov. Ugwuanyi as a responsible leader believed in due process and constitutional ways of addressing issues of this nature and should not be pushed to instigate the people of the state to take laws into their hands, as that is certainly not the best option under a democratic setting.

The students who expressed confidence in the ability of the state government to ensure that justice was done on the matter, advised the governor to summon a town hall meeting with the relevant stakeholders to sensitize the people and chart a new course for the safety of lives and property.

They, therefore, called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the security agencies to step up actions to put an end to the dastardly acts of the herdsmen in the overall interest of the country.