The national body of the Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU) has condemned the attack of farmers in their farm lands in the South East region of the country by Fulani herdsmen, citing the recent attack at Nimbo community, Enugu State, as a case in point.

In a press statement made available to journalists in Awka on Tuesday, signed by its National President Dr. J. A. P Okolo, and Secretary, Mr. Peter Nwagu, ASATU decried the defensive stance of Northern Governors on the issue of the attack.

The group also condemned the South East Governors’ Forum for their failure to stand up as a group and speak out on the murder of their citizens.

The statement reads in part: “The Anambra state Association of Town Unions (ASATU) hereby condemns in the strongest possible terms the recent attacks by the so-called cattle herdsmen at Nimbo community of Enugu state and some other parts of South-East of Nigeria resulting in the deaths of scores of innocent men, women and children.

“ASATU hereby calls on the security agencies tom fish out those responsible for this murderous act with a view to bringing them to face the wrath of the law.

“ASATU also commiserates with families of those who lost their loved ones in these senseless killings.

“ASATU hereby commends the efforts of His Excellency, Governor Willie Obiano , the Executive Governor of Anambra state for being pro-active in forestalling such attacks and especially as concerns the setting up of a cattle menace control committee much earlier to handle issues bothering on conflicts between herdsmen and farmers.

“ASATU also wishes to advise the cattle owners from the northern part of Nigeria to resort to the old system of grazing their cattle in the North where there are vast areas of land from which place they can now transport the cattle for on the spot sale or build ranches in the South-East. By this, the menace of destroying farmlands in the South-East in the name of grazing which normally leads to conflict will be eliminated. ASATU strongly holds the view that the owners of the cattle are wealthy men who can afford to establish ranches of their own for their cattle.

“ASATU notes with huge embarrassment how the wanton killings, maiming of people and destruction of properties in Enugu state was trivialised by some Northern Governors.

ASATU is of the view that highly placed people like Governors should have known how best to address such a very sensitive and highly explosive issue.

“ASATU also holds the view that there is the need for Southern Governors to issue strong worded communiqué condemning this unwholesome invasion which is capable of instigating major civil strife in the country.”

The group further maintained that “human life is sacred irrespective of one’s tribe, creed, colour or age and consequently condemns the wanton destruction of any human life.”

•Photo shows a part of Nimbo Community, Enugu, after the recent attack by Fulani herdsmen.

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