The people of Opi Communities in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State have denied a media report, credited to its Town Union President General, Dr. Samuel Ugwuoti, the association’s Secretary General, Mr. Uche Agama and the traditional rulers, alleging that Fulani herdsmen have sacked communities in the state.
Reacting to a publication in a national daily entitled “Tension as Fulani herdsmen sack communities in Enugu”, the President General of Federated Opi Town Union, Dr. Ugwuoti, the association’s Secretary General, Mr. Agama, the traditional ruler of Ogbozalla Opi Community, Igwe Fabian Ogbuabor and other traditional rulers from the adjoining communities, said that they did not speak to the press on the issue or made such allegation in any public forum, as was “mischievously” alleged.
The community leaders stated that they were embarrassed to note of the mentioning of their names in the said publication that borders on security without their consent, disclosing that they never travelled to Anambra State to address any group or association, contrary to the publication.
They also said that even though Fulani herdsmen are present in their communities, the cattle rearers have not unleashed mayhem on the people of the area.
The community leaders added that they were not unaware of the appropriate channels of communication with the securities agencies and other authorities in the event of any invasion of their communities by the herdsmen.
While calling for proper investigation of the source of the publication, which they alleged was deliberately conceived to undermine the efforts of the present administration in Enugu State to protect the lives and property of the people of the state, the communities urged the public to disregard the said publication.
Also reacting to the development, the state chairman of Association of President Generals of Town Unions in Enugu State, Chief Paully Eze described the publication as false and misleading. He disclosed that he got in touched with the traditional rulers and town union leaders of the communities and “Dr. Samuel Ugwuoti, Igwe Fabian Ogbuabor and Igwe Pius Agbo denied ever having made such comment to the press or any person.”
Chief Eze added that “Chief Ogbuabor went further to make it clear that there is no presence of Fulani herdsmen in his community.”
He stated that “the association of Enugu State Town Union has official channels of communication on sensitive matters of this nature”, warning “people who want to play politics and gain cheap popularity with the presence of Fulani herdsmen in Enugu State to desist from doing so to avoid creating unnecessary fear and tension in our people.”
According to him, “Fulani herdsmen stay at Opi Agu and the Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is on top of the security situation in the state, vis-à-vis the highly contentious issue of Fulani herdsmen. No community in Enugu State have been sacked or attacked after the Nimbo incident.”
