Okorocha asks Buhari to intervene in herdsmen killings in South East

Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene, as a matter of urgency, in the repeated killings in the South East by Fulani herdsmen, to forestall future occurrence.

Governor Okorocha described the recent killings in Enugu State by the rampaging herdsmen as very unfortunate and barbaric.

At the weekend, armed Fulani herdsmen attacked and killed at least 48 people, burning churches, other houses and destroyed valuable properties in their trail.

The governor spoke in Owerri while addressing traditional rulers in the state to take absolute control of security in their various autonomous communities, and to also ensure peaceful co-existence between their people and people from other areas living in their midst; adding that what the country needs at the moment is absolute peace.

Governor Okorocha appealed for calm on the part of both Enugu people, in particular, and the South East in general; expressing optimism that President Buhari would address the unfortunate development.

Okorocha, while addressing the Imo traditional rulers condemned the attack in Enugu State, saying that the news of the barbaric attack on some of the sons and daughters of Enugu State came to as a huge shock.

He sympathised with the families who lost their beloved ones, and appealed for peace in the region; promising that the governments within the region are on top of the matter; adding also that the nation cannot afford the wanton killings of innocent lives, as only absolute peace was needed to ensure the protection of lives and property.

 “This is an important meeting.  I want to kindly request all of you (traditional rulers) to take responsibility of security in your domains, to ensure peaceful co-existence between Igbos and other Nigerians living in your areas,” Governor Okorocha said.

He said the killings in Enugu State was inhuman, and warned that those behind the killings should be made to face the law; calling on the traditional rulers to take charge of security in their autonomous communities.  “You are now the Chief Security Officers of your communities, and you must ensure harmony between your people and others living with them,” he said.