By Akinwale Kasali
Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State has made a bold statement against the Fulani Herdsmen who have wreaked havoc in parts of the country, especially in the South East, warning them that they must adhere strictly to the laws and instructions of the land.
Umahi said that any herdsman coming to the South-East must conform to the culture of the people of the region.
The Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, said herdsmen must stop any further killings of the innocent people of the zone.
He made this known at the weekend while addressing a mammoth crowd of believers, stakeholders and political leaders of the state during the ground finale of the seven days praying and fasting organized by the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Ebonyi State chapter, which took place at the ecumenical centre Abakaliki, the State Capital.
A Seven-day praying and fasting organized by CAN, was aimed at seeking Gods intervention on the increasing insecurity in Nigeria, in particular Ebonyi state, where police stations were razed, and officers killed by unknown gunmen.
The Governor further warned that on no account should herdsmen attempt to kill people in the South-East zone, especially in Ebonyi, where some communities were recently attacked by herders killing 15 people.
According to Umahi: “Those people you think are your friends will become your enemies. No place will be safe. We are at war with ourselves. No herdsmen in the South East will make any attempt to kill anybody again.
“Nobody. Every herdsman coming to the South-East must to the culture of the people. Our people everywhere in South-South, South-West and in the north must conform to the culture of the people.
“Some herdsmen threatened that they would come and do this and do that, I said the last killing is the one that happened in the past. No time again will Ebonyi man or woman be killed. Never again. People have the effrontery to say herdsmen are coming to kill people. Let them try it again. That rubbish must stop.
“This madness in this country must stop. I see videos of Boko Haram ravaging places in the north unchecked. Where is our air fighting powers? We must not be ashamed to borrow fighter jets from other African countries. No nation will allow this kind of thing to be happening,” he stated.
Chairman of CAN Ebonyi State chapter, Rev. Fr. Abraham Nwali, charged the state’s citizens to give way for peace to reign in the state and shun all forms of violence in the state.
He warned people who are in the habit of sponsoring youths to go into war to desist, or face God’s wrath.
