•Says self-defense, a legitimate instrument of law
•RUGA will be over our dead bodies
ENUGU— President-General of apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo has asked the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to immediately arrest and disarm Fulani herdsmen in the South East region or face retaliatory measures.
Nwodo who was visibly outraged over the brutal murder of Enugu Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Paul Offu who was shot dead Thursday evening by suspected Fulani herdsmen along Ihe-Agbudu road in Awgu Local Government Area by suspected Fulani herdsmen said Ndigbo will no longer tolerate such heinous act again.
Speaking to Journalist101 correspondent at the end of the monthly Igbo interactive programme ‘Nkata Umu Ibe’ held at Enugu Sports Club, the Igbo leader who roared against the proposal of Ruga settlement policy insisted that government cannot dictate to the indigenes of the land what they will do on their lands.
According to Nwodo, “We’re all very angry and flustered, this is not the first time. Militant Fulani herdsmen went to a church in session in Benue state and attacked the church, killed two priests there and all the members of the choir. They took over their uniforms, wore them and danced hilariously in jubilation of their dastardly act. They were photographed and the video went viral in Nigeria.
“The faces of the herdsmen in the video were not hidden but not one person was arrested. This is about the third priest murdered in Enugu state. I knew about three that has been kidnapped and released after payment of ransom.
“I’ve said it today that if the FG does not arrest Miyetti Allah people, disarm them and stop them from the licentiousness they have encouraged them to enjoy, we’ll begin to retaliate because self-defense is a legal and legitimate instrument of law. We’ll never accept this again.”
Earlier in the programme, the Ohanaeze President has rejected moves by the Federal government to set up Ruga settlements in parts of the country, saying it was against the people’s wish.
“We’re called a federation but what we practice in practical terms is unitary system of government where a president will be in Abuja and tell us we must give up our land for some foreigners that have so many similarities with him without minding how the owners of the land will feel. That will be over our dead bodies,” he hollered.
The murdered Rev. Fr. Offu hailed from Okpatu in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu state and until his death, was the parish priest of St. James the Greater Parish, Ugbawka.
