The three Roman Catholic Church Dioceses in Enugu State, Saturday, held peaceful prayer rallies across the State over the menace of herdsmen.
The rallies, which held simultaneously in Nsukka, Awgu and Enugu, attracted thousands of the church members, including priests.
While the catholic faithful oved round the streets in Nsukka and Awgu Dioceses, the story was different in Enugu where they held a rosary prayer procession within the premises of the Holy Ghost Cathedral.
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, other members of the State Executive Council and all the Security Chiefs, later arrived at the venue to ensure that there was no breakdown of law and order.
Addressing the Church, the Governor commended the Church for the leading role it had continued to play in the struggle against social injustice, human rights violations and other crimes against humanity in every part of the country.
He described the attack on Nimbo community, where scores of people were killed as “a day that will ever remain dark, sad and solemn in the memory of the people of Enugu State and indeed Nigerians at large.”
“On the issues you have raised in this rally, I wish to state that I address you today not only as a Catholic but as your Governor and the Chief Security Officer of Enugu State. While taking my oath of office, I swore to do everything within my powers to preserve the security of lives and property of the people of Enugu State.
“You can therefore be assured that I will not fail in this responsibility and be further assured that whatever message you convey through me to the appropriate authorities at Abuja, will be promptly delivered. Regarding the proposed grazing bill, I assure you that I will duly convey your decisions on the matter to the State’s representatives at the National Assembly.
“We are deeply appreciative of the support and cooperation that the Federal Government has been lending us towards this end and it is worthy of note that five of the suspected attackers are already in police custody. We also recall that shortly after the incident, we received sympathy and solidarity visits from Governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress, PDP Governors, Catholic Bishops, South East Traditional Rulers and so many other groups across the country.” the governor said.
Earlier in a joint press statement read by the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Rt. Rev. Callistus Onaga, on behalf of the Bishop of Awgu and Nsukka Dioceses, he said “the free grazing of cattle in our area has now become a threat not only to the growing of crops, which is the mainstay of our sedentary people, but also to our lives.
“That the nomadic lifestyle makes policing and the pursuit of criminals much more complex and hazardous, while providing terrorists like Boko Haram operatives with ready cover for penetrating every nook and cranny of our country.
